Changes in Mechanical and Microstructural Characteristics of Demineralized Tooth Enamel after Conventional and Modified Infiltration Techniques

The research carried out a comparative assessment of the physical and mechanical properties of tooth enamel: healthy; demineralized; demineralized and subsequently infiltrated with a flowable composite according to a standard or modified technique. An original in vitro model of artificial caries of human tooth enamel was used for the study, the clinical-topographic, color-textural and physical-mechanical properties of which correspond to the characteristics of enamel caries in vivo. Comparative analysis of the results of kinetic microindentation of enamel samples allows to characterize the biomaterial from the standpoint of physical materials science, to determine the advantages and disadvantages of different regimens of resin infiltration. The advantages of the modified infiltration technique are illustrated by significantly greater, as compare with classic method, increase in microhardness and elasticity against background of a decrease in a creep index of the infiltrated enamel in itsdeep zones. The results reflect the fact of incomplete obturation of microporous in the deep layers of enamel after classical treatment. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.