Changes in microhardness and morphology of the adamantine structure as a function of the exposure time to different drugs

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the in vitro effect of four pediatric liquid medicines on the microhardness and morphology of the enamel of permanent teeth after different exposure times. Material and Methods: Claritin, Celestone, Amplictil and Vick syrup honey flavor were tested. Seventy tooth fragments were obtained, 50 embedded in acrylic resin and submitted to Knoop Hardness test (50 gf, 15 s, and 5 indentations) before and after immersion in drugs. The specimens were randomly divided into five groups (n = 10), four experimental and one control group (distilled water). The immersion cycle consisted of a single exposure in times of 5 and 15 minutes. Other 20 dental specimens were divided between groups and analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy. The level of statistical significance was set at 5% with a confidence interval of 95%. Results: The microhardness analysis showed no statistically significant difference between experimental groups (p > 0.05), although there was statistically significant difference within each group at different times (p < 0.05). The SEM micrographs showed distinct changes in the enamel morphology. Conclusion: The decreased in microhardness was dependent on the time of the immersion cycle and morphological changes were influenced by the type of drug and by the exposure time.