Morphological study of human enamel submitted to different prophylaxis methods: analysis by scanning electron microscope

Abstract

The purpose of this in vitro stu- dy was to evaluate, by scanning elec- tron microscopy, alterations in the micromorphology of human enamel submitted to three prophylaxis me- thods. Forty caries-free premolars were divided into four groups of 10 samples each. The first group was treated with sodium bicarbonate spray Profident (Dabiatlante); the second group with a mix of water and pumice slurry (S.S. White); the third group with a prophylaxis pas- te Herjos-F (Vigodent S.A.) and the fourth group received no prophyla- xis treatment, being considered the control. After the treatment the sample were rinsed with air/water spray, dehydrated, coated with gold and examined in a scanning elec- tron microscope JEOL, JSM-6.100. The following observations were ob- tained using the SEM: (1) samples in group I presented an irregular surface with no scratch marks and granular material were observed on its surface, (2) group II presented many enhanced scratch marks on its surface, (3) granular materials were also observed on the surface of group III, which presented few scra- tch marks. Key words: dental enamel, dental prophylaxis, microscopy, electron, scanning.