QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON OF THE REMINERALISATION POTENTIAL OF THREE DIFFERENT NATURAL EXTRACTS: AN IN VITRO SMH AND SEM-EDX STUDY

Minimally invasive dentistry aims at restoring the early incipient caries thereby arresting the caries progression. Various remineralising agents boosts the calcium and phosphate deposition onto the incipient lesions restoring tooth architecture. This research aimed to evaluate the remineralisation potentiality of enamel surface lesion using different natural extracts quantitatively by surface microhardness and qualitatively by energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Forty single rooted teeth fitted in the criteria were collected and subjected to demineralization cycle for about of 7 days. Samples were allocated into 4 groups as : Group 1 – Artificial saliva, Group 2- Moringa leaf extract, Group 3 – Ashgaurd pulp extract, Group 4- Chicken egg shell powder based on the remineralisation agents employed and subjected to remineralization cycle for about of 14 days. Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (SEM- EDX) was used for Qualitative analysis and Vickers microhardness was used for Quantitative analysis. Qualitative EDS analysis revealed highest calcium and phosphorous content by Moringa leaf extract followed by Ashguard pulp extract. Quantitative SMH analysis revealed higher microhardness values for Moringa leaf extract. Herbal agents have a promising role in remineralization of early enamel carious lesions. Moringa leaf extract and Ashgaurd pulp extract shows higher remineralisation potential owing to its high calcium content Keywords: Remineralisation, Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis