SEM, EDX & Microhardness Data

Tooth enamel resists erosion by absorbing fluoride and forming fluorapatite; thus, increasing fluoride absorption is a preventive treatment. This study investigates the effect of cold atmospheric helium plasma on bovine enamel surface characteristics, specifically with fluoride varnish. A total of 91 bovine incisor teeth were randomly assigned into seven groups: control groups (comprising control, helium gas, and varnish group) and experimental groups, which received helium plasma before or after fluoride varnish. Subsequent to the treatment, the samples were analyzed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and microhardness in the tooth enamel at three time points: immediately following therapy, 24 hours later, and 48 hours later at the surface layer. A structural examination by SEM revealed that helium plasma treatment enhanced the even dispersion of fluoride and reduced imperfections on the enamel surface. The EDX analysis indicated significant alterations in the elemental composition, particularly with respect to the amount of fluoride (F) and the calcium to phosphorus (Ca/P) ratios. In comparison to the Varnish group, the fluoride atomic percentage exhibited a notable increase from 1.21% to 7.31% when combined with cold plasma. Concurrently, the Ca/P ratio increased from 1.95 to 2.39, indicating enhanced enamel resistance to degradation. Furthermore, evaluations of microhardness revealed that the combination of helium plasma and fluoride varnish enhances enamel surface resistance, as evidenced by a 24% increase in Vickers hardness compared to the Varnish group after 48 hours of treatment. This novel approach to treating dental problems offers a promising solution for preventing cavities.

牙釉质（Tooth enamel）可通过吸收氟化物并形成氟磷灰石来抵御侵蚀，因此提升氟化物吸收效率是一种防龋治疗策略。本研究探究了冷大气氦等离子体（cold atmospheric helium plasma）对牛牙釉质表面特性的影响，尤其针对联合氟保护漆（fluoride varnish）的场景。本研究共纳入91颗牛切牙，随机分为7组：对照组（含空白对照组、氦气组及氟保护漆组）与实验组，实验组分别在氟保护漆涂布前或后接受氦等离子体处理。处理完成后，研究采用扫描电子显微镜（scanning electron microscopy, SEM）与能量色散X射线光谱仪（energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, EDX）对样本进行分析，并于三个时间点（治疗结束即刻、治疗后24小时及治疗后48小时）检测牙釉质表层的显微硬度。扫描电子显微镜（SEM）结构观察结果显示，氦等离子体处理可促进氟化物均匀分散，并减少牙釉质表面的缺陷。能量色散X射线光谱仪（EDX）分析表明，样本的元素组成发生了显著变化，尤其是氟（F）含量与钙磷（Ca/P）比值。与氟保护漆组相比，联合冷等离子体处理后，氟的原子百分比从1.21%显著提升至7.31%；同时钙磷比值从1.95升至2.39，表明牙釉质的抗降解能力得到增强。此外，显微硬度检测结果显示，氦等离子体与氟保护漆联合使用可提升牙釉质表面抗性：治疗48小时后，维氏硬度较氟保护漆组提升24%，这一结果佐证了上述结论。本研究提出的新型牙科干预方案，为龋病预防提供了极具前景的解决方案。