A Biomimetic Approach for Treating Deep Dentin Carious Lesions Using Dentin Matrix Protein (DMP-1): An In Vitro Comparative Study

Objectives: To evaluate the potential of a phosphoprotein analogue to mediate mineral deposition and enhance surface integrity in deep carious dentin lesions, compared with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and Sylc air abrasion. Materials and Methods: Thirty carious dentin discs (3.5 ± 0.1 mm in thickness) were prepared and examined visually (ranging from yellow to light brown), through tactile assessment (leathery sensation), with 0-20 DIAGNOdent pen readings indicating caries-affected dentin (CAD) substrate. The specimens received three treatments: dentin matrix protein-1 (DMP-1, MCE, United States), MTA (Angelus, Brazil), and Sylc air abrasion (AquaCare, United Kingdom), and were immersed in artificial saliva (pH 7, 37°C) for 30 days. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and contact angle measurement were performed on DMP-1. The mineral and organic content was assessed using Raman micro-spectroscopy, while cross-sectional tissue hardness was evaluated by a Vickers tester at 50 and 100 µm depth from the treated surfaces. The morphological assessment was conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Statistical Analysis: One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's multiple comparison test and paired t-test were performed for the statistical analyses. Results: = 0.005). The SEM showed compact surfaces completely covered with mineral precipitation. Conclusion: DMP-1 provided a successful biomimetic analogue that enhanced the mineral-organic phases of mineral-depleted dentin surfaces, offering an effective treatment modality for deep carious lesions compared with MTA and Sylc air abrasion.