Research on Remineralizing Agents

According to a recent research published in the Journal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry, it has been found that Nigella sativa has better remineralising potential than conventional remineralisation agents in treating noncavitated demineralized carious lesions.

Various remineralizing agents such as:

• Fluorides
• Casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP)
• Self-assembling peptides

are used to revert initial noncavitated carious lesion.

The direction toward herbs and their products is the basis for many unique pharmaceuticals. Nigella sativa is an important drug in traditional systems of medicine such as Unani and Ayurveda. In old Latin, it is called "Panacea" meaning "cure all." The use of this miraculous herb in dentistry can be a panacea in preventing tooth decay and promoting oral health.

The anticarcinogenic potential and remineralizing properties of CPP-ACP have been exhibited in vitro and in situ studies. CPP-ACP is a technology based on ACP stabilized by CPPs. The beneficial effect obtained from CPP-ACP is associated with its ability to localize calcium and phosphate in dental plaque in the proximity of the tooth, thus facilitating remineralization.

Fluorides have been conventionally used as remineralizing agents. The topical application of fluoride varnishes provides a noninvasive method for caries control and remineralization. Sodium fluoride has the ability to increase the resistance of enamel to dissolution by the effect of acid which results in the protection of the teeth against decay, hence used as a remineralizing agent.

Till date, there is no study comparing this herbal product, N. sativa with conventional remineralizing agents. Hence, N Kiran Kumar and associates from the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India conducted this study which aimed to compare the remineralizing potential of Novel agent-N. sativa with conventional remineralizing agents like sodium fluoride and CPP-ACP.

The authors collected a total of sixty-four human premolars all of which were covered with nail varnish except for a 4 mm × 4 mm exposed window on the facial aspect, which was treated with 37% phosphoric acid for 30 seconds.

Samples are then randomly divided into four groups (n = 16):

• Group I – N. sativa
• Group II – 5% sodium fluoride
• Group III – Casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate
• Group IV – Control

The samples in each group were treated with the remineralizing agent, after which they were rinsed with deionised water, dried, and stored in artificial saliva. The same procedure is repeated for the span of 14 days. Depth of demineralization and remineralization were analyzed using the confocal laser scanning microscopy. Data were analyzed and results were tabulated.

The authors noticed that Group I specimens showed greater depth of remineralization (1558.83) compared to other groups, which is statistically significant (P < 0.001).

Hence, they concluded that "novel remineralising agent–N. sativa proved to be effective than conventional remineralising agents."

However, further clinical studies with greater sample size and randomized controlled trials have to be performed to invite greater research about the use of this novel agent in dentistry.

For further reference, log in to:

Kumar N K, Naik SB, Priya C H, Merwade S, Brigit B, Guruprasad C N, Prabakaran P. Evaluation of the remineralizing potential of Nigella sativa, sodium fluoride and caesin phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate on enamel: An In vitro study. J Indian Assoc Public Health Dent 2020;18:313-7