Effects of experimental gels with epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG) and chitosan in controlling the progression of dentin erosian: in vitro study

Abstract

With increasing implementation of public health policies to prevent caries lesions in recent years, occasions governed by non-carious cervical lesions, such as dental erosion, has become a prevalent oral health problem. In this situation, inhibitory mechanisms of metalloproteinases, enzymes activated by acidic environments and capable of initiating proteolytic actions of erosive wear, arise with the aim of reducing collagen loss from dentin and, consequently, dental erosion. Among them, epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG) and chitosan stand out. The current objective of this project is to evaluate the effects of experimental gels containing EGCG and/or chitosan on the progression of erosion in dentin. For the study, specimens of bovine dentin (4.5x4.5x2mm) will be used, divided into 5 treatment groups: GP -Gel placebo (baseline); GF-Gel containing fluorine; GE- Gel containing EGCG; GQ- Gel containing chitosan nanoparticles; GEQ- Gel containing chitosan nanoparticles encapsulated with ECGC. After simulating erosive lesions in dentin, the specimens will be treated with experimental gels, which will be applied in 3 instances, once a day, with 7-day intervals between each application, totaling a 21-day treatment cycle.The specimens will then be subjected to erosion cycling (citric acid, 0.3%, 5 minutes) - remineralization (artificial saliva, 60 minutes), 4 times a day, for 10 days, for progression controlled analysis of erosion. The quantitative response variables will be obtained through analysis of dentin roughness and microhardness, as well as calculation of dentinal tubules per area analyzed with the aid of ImageJ software. The qualitative variable will be devised through electron scanning microscopy analysis. The results obtained will be analyzed. In case of any homogeneity of variance and normal distribution of data, a parametric test will be performed using Analysis of Variance, otherwise, a non-parametric test will be used.