EFFECT OF CHICKEN EGGSHELL PASTE ON ENAMEL SURFACE MICROHARDNESS AND COLOUR CHANGE OF ARTIFICIAL CARIOUS LESIONS CREATED ON PERMANENTLY EXTRACTED TEETH.

Remineralizing agents such as fluoride and hydroxyapatite (HA) (Ca5 (po4)3OH) are well-known treatment choices for incipient enamel lesions. Hydroxyapatite has been newly presented to return the color of such enamel lesions. The purpose of this prospective in vitro study was to compare commercial sodium fluoride paste to hydroxyapatite paste (HA) made from chicken eggshells powder (CESP) in terms of how it affected the microhardness and color of the enamel surface of artificially demineralized permanent teeth. Fifty healthy maxillary premolars were gathered, decoronated, and the crowns were placed in acrylic moulds with the buccal enamel surfaces exposed. Baseline microhardness evaluation was done for the baseline group, while the colour assessment was done at baseline to three treatment groups. Then specimens were randomly divided into the following five groups (n = 10) based on the treatment of enamel surface: Group 1: Baseline group; Group 2: Acid group demineralized only; Group 3: demineralized followed by the application of hydroxyapatite paste (HA); Group 4: demineralized followed by the application of sodium fluoride toothpaste (Naf); and Group 5: demineralized followed by application of combination treatments (HA paste at morning and Naf paste at evening. The specimens were stored in deionized water at room temperature during treatments, after one week they were subjected to a Vickers microhardness test, and colour assessment to three treatment groups after treatment. One‑way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc multiple comparison tests were used for statistical analysis (P < 0.05). After artificial demineralization, the enamel's surface microhardness was greatly reduced, and after management, it dramatically increased. The combination group had the greatest mean microhardness value when compared to the HA paste group and the Naf paste group. Statistically, there was no significant variance in microhardness values among the Naf paste and HA paste groups. Hydroxyapatite sourced from chicken eggshell was as effective as Naf paste in remineralizing and restoring the lost microhardness of artificially demineralized enamel, hydroxyapatite paste changed tooth color, while sodium fluoride paste, a combination group neither changed nor masked color of early caries lesion.