Comparative evaluation of the remineralization potential of chitosan-fluoride-doped mesoporous silica nanoparticles hydrogel and casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate fluoride paste on the enamel of primary teeth: An in vitro study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the remineralization potential of chitosan-fluoride-doped mesoporous silica nanoparticles (FMSN) hydrogel and casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate fluoride (CPP-ACPF) paste on artificially demineralized enamel of primary teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty extracted primary central incisors were randomly allocated into two groups ( n = 15). Group CH received Chitosan-FMSN hydrogel, and Group GC received CPP-ACPF paste. The remineralizing agents were applied twice daily for 3 months. Remineralization was assessed using DIAGNOdent ® , while elemental composition and surface morphology were evaluated using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Intergroup comparisons were performed using an independent Student's t -test, and intragroup comparisons were performed using a paired t -test. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: The CPP-ACPF group showed a significant increase in calcium content from 55.47% to 67.96% ( P = 0.001), whereas the Chitosan-FMSN group showed a decrease from 53.59% to 42.37% ( P = 0.095). The Ca/P ratio increased from 1.25 to 2.62 in the CPP-ACPF group and decreased from 1.16 to 1.04 in the Chitosan-FMSN group, with a significant intergroup difference at three months ( P = 0.003). DIAGNOdent ® values decreased from 10.66 to 2.40 in the CPP-ACPF group and from 10.06 to 4.26 in the Chitosan-FMSN group. FE-SEM demonstrated greater surface mineral coverage in the CPP-ACPF group. CONCLUSIONS: Under the conditions of this in vitro study, CPP-ACPF demonstrated greater remineralization-associated changes than Chitosan-FMSN hydrogel in primary enamel.