Remineralization of Enamel Subsurface Lesions by Sugar-free Chewing Gum Containing Casein Phosphopeptide-Amorphous Calcium Phosphate

• Published in: Journal of dental research Vol. 80; no. 12; pp. 2066 - 2070
• Main Authors: Shen, P., Cai, F., Nowicki, A., Vincent, J., Reynolds, E.C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.12.2001; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Calcium Phosphates - therapeutic use; Cariostatic Agents - therapeutic use; casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate; Caseins - therapeutic use; Chewing Gum; Cross-Over Studies; Densitometry; Double-Blind Method; Drug Combinations; enamel remineralization; Humans; Peptide Fragments - therapeutic use; sugar-free chewing gum; Tooth Remineralization - methods; casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate; enamel remineralization; sugar-free chewing gum
• ISSN: 0022-0345; 1544-0591
• DOI: 10.1177/00220345010800120801

Casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate nanocomplexes (CPP-ACP) exhibit anticariogenic potential in laboratory, animal, and human in situ experiments. The aim of this study was to determine the ability of CPP-ACP in sugar-free chewing gum to remineralize enamel subsurface lesions in a human in situ model. Thirty subjects in randomized, cross-over, double-blind studies wore removable palatal appliances with six human-enamel half-slabs inset containing subsurface demineralized lesions. The appliances were inserted immediately before gum-chewing for 20 min and then retained for another 20 min. This was performed four times per day for 14 days. At the completion of each treatment, the enamel half-slabs were paired with their respective demineralized control half-slabs, embedded, sectioned, and subjected to microradiography and densitometric image analysis, for measurement of the level of remineralization. The addition of CPP-ACP to either sorbitol- or xylitol-based gum resulted in a dose-related increase in enamel remineralization, with 0.19, 10.0, 18.8, and 56.4 mg of CPP-ACP producing an increase in enamel remineralization of 9, 63, 102, and 152%, respectively, relative to the control gum, independent of gum weight or type.