Comparative Evaluation of the Remineralization Potential of Fluoride-Free Bioactive Toners and Fluoride-Containing Functionalized Tricalcium Phosphate Toothpaste on the Artificially Demineralized Enamel: An In Vitro Study

Objectives: Management of demineralized enamel currently focuses on the use of remineralizing materials. This study evaluated the remineralizing efficacy of two fluoride-free bioactive toners-BAT-1 (nanohydroxyapatite, calcium phosphate, and antibacterial agents) and BAT-2 (calcium phosphate and antibacterial agents)-compared with fluoride-containing functionalized tricalcium phosphate toothpaste (CPT) on demineralized enamel. Materials and Methods: = 15): BAT-1, BAT-2, CPT, and untreated control (NT). Specimens underwent a 7-day pH cycling and were treated with respective materials twice daily. Surface microhardness was measured at baseline, post-demineralization, and posttreatment to calculate the percentage of hardness recovery (%HR) and remineralization potential (%RP). Structural and mineral changes were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and polarized light microscopy (PLM). Statistical Analysis: ANOVA (analysis of variance) and Bonferroni's post-hoc tests were utilized to identify significant differences among groups (α = 0.05). Results: > 0.05). SEM revealed that BAT-1 was superior to BAT-2 and CPT in preserving enamel architecture and promoting mineral penetration, effects that were negligible in the NT group. AFM showed more densely packed and better oriented nanohydroxyapatite crystals in both BAT groups compared with the others. Furthermore, PLM indicated that BAT-1 achieved the most substantial reduction in lesion depth. Conclusion: Although BAT-1 showed remineralization potential comparable to CPT, it was notably more effective at reducing lesion depth. Consequently, BAT-1 is a promising fluoride-free material for the noninvasive management of early carious lesions.