BACKGROUND: Coral calcium is a new biomimetic product and dietary supplement which consists mainly of alkaline calcium carbonate. AIM: The aim of the current study is to compare the remineralization effect of coral calcium in different formulations and application methods. METHODS: A total of 35 extracted molars was collected, examined, and sectioned to obtain 70 sound enamel discs, all specimens were examined for calcium mineral content using energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX) coupled with scanning electron microscope. Hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles were synthesized through wet chemical precipitation approach and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis. Teeth specimens were subjected to demineralization, and mineral content was measured, specimens were divided into ten groups according to the remineralizing agent used, where Groups 1–3 used 10, 20, and 30 weight % (wt.%) coral calcium gel, respectively, Groups 4–6 used 10, 20, and 30 wt.% coral calcium and nanohydroxyapatite mix gel, and Groups 7–9 used 10, 20, and 30 wt.% coral calcium with argon laser activation and Group 10 (control group) without a remineralizing agent. All groups were re-examined by EDAX after remineralization. RESULTS: The TEM and FT-IR analysis confirmed the formation of rod shape HA in nanoparticles size range. All groups showed a statistically significant decrease in calcium level after demineralization, all groups showed a statistically significant increase in calcium content after remineralization except for the control group. Moreover, Groups 2 and 8 showed the highest increase in calcium level after remineralization. CONCLUSION: Coral calcium showed a significant remineralizing effect on carious enamel (demineralization) with an optimum concentration of 20 wt.%.

Coral calcium is a boasting natural product and dietary supplement which is considered a source of alkaline calcium carbonate, this study is a comparative study, comparing the remineraliztion effect of the new product of coral calcium with that of nano hydroxyapatite. Methodology: a total of 35 extracted molars were collected, examined and sectioned to obtain 70 sound enamel discs, all discs were numbered and examined by scanning electron microscope coupled with Energy Dispersive Analysis of X-rays(EDAX) for mineral content, subjected to artificial caries and mineral content was re measured, discs were divided into 7 groups according to the remineralizing agent used, where groups 1 to 3 used 10, 20, 30 % nanohydroxyapatite gel respectively, groups 4 to 6 used 10, 20, 30 % coral calcium gel and group 7 with no reminieralizing agent (control group). All groups were reexamined by EDAX after remineralization, data were calculated and tabulated. Results: all groups showed statistically significant drop in calcium level after artificial caries, all groups showed statistically significant rise in calcium content after re mineralization except for the control group, groups 1 and 5 showed the highest increase in calcium level after re mineralization. Conclusion: coral calcium can be considered a comparative product to nano hydroxyapatite regarding re mineralization of enamel initial carious lesions.

To the public majority, teeth whitening and appearance is crucial and affect their esthetic qualities. Despite that, in many cultures, home remedies been employed for teeth whitening, there is dearth of solid scientific evidence regarding their effectiveness. This study was conducted aiming to characterize and formulate some of these remedies and to compare their teeth whitening effect to conventional teeth whitening toothpaste after tooth brushing at one and six months’ intervals. Cocos nucifera L. (Coconut) oil, along with the alcoholic extracts of Salvia officinalis L. (Sage) herb, Curcuma longa L. (Turmeric) rhizomes, Psidium guajava L. (Guava) leaves, Citrus limon L. (Lemon) fruits peels and Fragaria ananassa Duchesne (Strawberry) fruits were separately used to prepare toothpastes. The oil and extracts were subjected to GC and HPLC-MS/MS respectively. The formulated toothpastes were of different colors, smooth in nature, foamability around 10, pH-8.2 and extrudability 95%. The best formulations were of S. officinalis (SO), C. longa (CL) and C. nucifera (CN), therefore, their corresponding toothpastes were further investigated. 20 extracted premolars were selected based on orthodontic reasons, randomly distributed into four groups and evaluated using CIELAB measurement system at base line before brushing T0 and after brushing for one month T1 and six months T2. SO showed color changes ( E > 3.3) which can be easily observed clinically. Therefore, it could be concluded that SO toothpaste was effective in changing the color of dental enamel with results comparable to those of the conventional toothpaste.

Aim: This study was carried out to investigate the effect of different enamel surface treatments on micro-tensile bond strength of resin composite to bleached enamel Materials and methods: 56 human premolars were used in this study. Teeth were divided into two main groups group 1: unbleached enamel (10 teeth) while group 2: bleached enamel (40 teeth). Then group 2 was subdivided into 4 subgroups (10 each) according the enamel surface treatment employed after bleaching and before bonding to composite either no treatment, grinding with diamond stone to remove 0.5mm of the surface, air abrasion using the air abrasion system (AquaCare-Velopex International) and combination of grinding and air abrasion. Each subgroup as well as the control group was further divided into two classes (5 each) according to the aging time either 24 hours or 3 months. Another six specimens were used as representative for the enamel surface topography after treatments for scanning electron microscopy SEM testing. Specimens of group 2 were polished and mounted in an acrylic block (five teeth in each block) with slight lingual inclination from their long axis to facilitate bleaching and light application. For in office bleaching, Philips ZOOM in-office light-activated bleaching gel was used in this study. After the in-office bleaching, teeth were subjected to at home bleaching using Night White ACP system for successive 7 days. The bleached teeth were divided into four subgroups according the enamel surface treatment employed after bleaching and before bonding as mentioned before. All enamel specimens either unbleached (control) or bleached and prepared specimens were bonded to Filtek Universal Restorative composite (3M ESPE, St Paul, MN, USA) using Single Bond universal adhesive (3M ESPE, St Paul, MN, USA). For immediate subgroups and classes, the specimens were stored in distilled water for only 24h after resin composite bonding. While for the three-month classes, the specimens were stored for three months in distilled water at room temperature. For micro-tensile bond strength test, specimens were longitudinally cut into a series of 1 mm thick slabs by means of a water-cooled diamond blade of thickness 0.5 mm in a low speed micro-slicing machine. By rotating the specimen 90 o and sectioning it again lengthwise (five cuts), four sticks of about 1 mm 2 (2750)