Calcium lactate pre-rinse increased fluoride protection against enamel erosion in a randomized controlled in situ trial

Objectives

This in situ trial study was designed to evaluate whether calcium (Ca) pre-rinse would increase the fluoride (F) rinse protection against enamel erosion.

Methods

Fifteen volunteers participated in this split-mouth, 3-phase, crossover design study wearing a palatal appliance containing four sterilized bovine enamel slabs, for 10 days. In the 1st phase, five participants followed protocol A: daily rinse with a Ca lactate (CaL, 150 mmol/L, 1 min), followed by F (NaF 12 mmol/L, 1 min). Other five participants followed protocol B: daily rinse only with F, while the remainders followed protocol C: no rinse (negative control). Appliances were removed from the mouth and one side of the palatal appliance was exposed to a daily erosive challenge (0.05 M citric acid, 90 s); the other side served as control (deionized water – no erosion). In the 2nd phase volunteers were crossed over to other protocol and in the 3rd phase volunteers received the remaining protocol not yet assigned. Specimens were evaluated for surface loss using an optical profilometer.

Results

Repeated-measures three-way ANOVA (p = 0.009) and Tukey's test showed that CaL pre-rinse followed by NaF rinse significantly decreased surface loss of enamel when performed prior to an erosive challenge in comparison with the condition in which NaF only was used.

Conclusions

Pre-rinse with CaL may increase the protection exerted by NaF against erosive wear.