Assessment of enamel re-mineralization of deciduous teeth after treatment with Curcuma longa Linn and casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate fluoride

Introduction: Curcuma longa Linn (CLL) has high calcium and phosphate concentrations, resulting in increasing re-mineralization of enamel. Objectives: This study was to determine the difference between CLL and casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate fluoride (CPP-ACPF) in the growth of enamel re-mineralization. Material and methods: CLL 5% and 10% were obtained from thick CLL extract and weighed to acquire 50 grams of CLL extract. 2.5 grams of CLL were taken, and 2.5 grams of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and 45 ml of distilled water were added, giving CLL 5% gel. For CLL 10% gel, 5 grams of CLL, 2.5 grams of CMC, and 42.5 ml of distilled water were mixed. De-mineralization solution consisted of 2.2 mM/l CaCl2, 2.2 mM/l KH2PO4, and 50 mM acetate buffer, with pH of 4.06. Samples of 24 extracted primary maxillary central incisors were divided into four groups: 1. Negative control group (C–); 2. Positive control (C+) with CPP-ACPF 5% cohort; 3. CLL 5%; and 4. CLL 10% treatment group. Results: Mean enamel micro-hardness in CLL 10% group after re-mineralization at tenth minute time-point (449.28 HV) was higher than that in CPP-ACPF 5% group (403.41 HV), which was significantly different. Strongest correlation coefficient was observed in CLL 10% group (r = 0.820, very strong), with highest R2 value of 67.2%. Conclusions: CLL 10% is more effective than CLL 5%. Moreover, CPP-ACPF 5% was found efficient in increasing enamel re-mineralization, as a potential agent for re-mineralizing primary teeth enamels.