An in vitro Evaluation of Effect of Remineralising Potential of Marine Skeletal Specie Meretrixmeretrix Extract on Human Enamel

Background: To test the effectiveness of a marine skeleton specie - Meretrix meretrix (cockle shell) powder extract on human tooth enamel to remineralize a subsurface defect.

Methods: The study included 5 freshly extracted human 3rd molar teeth that were sectioned at the cement-enamel junction (CEJ). Later, each tooth coronal region was separated into four pieces of enamel blocks, yielding twenty blocks that were demineralized and categorised as follows: Cockle shell powder extract from Group I-subsurface demineralization. Group II: subsurface demineralization + clinpro application for a thirty-day period in artificial saliva. The samples were evaluated using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, micro hardness testing, and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy for atomic analysis. The data was analysed using a one-way ANOVA and the Tukey Kramer multiple comparison test.

Results: In the cockle shell, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy revealed calcium concentrations of 98.3 percent and 0.21 percent, respectively. Group II (Clinpro) has the greatest potential for speeding up the remineralization process, followed by Group I: CSEP (Cockle shell extract powder). Quantitative volumes of Ca weight percent and P weight percent are statistically bigger for both groups, according to the results of atomic evaluation. The remineralisation efficiency of Group II (Clinpro) was higher than that of Group A. (mussel shell extract).

Conclusion: Enamel subsurface flaws can be remineralized using marine shells with a higher calcium content.