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能力是一种防龋治疗手段。本研究探究了冷大气氦等离子体（cold atmospheric helium plasma）对牛切牙表面特性的影响，尤其针对涂布氟保护漆（fluoride varnish）的样本。总计91颗牛切牙被随机分为7组：对照组（包括空白对照组、氦气组与氟保护漆组）以及实验组，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，研究人员采用扫描电子显微镜（scanning electron microscopy, SEM）与能量色散X射线能谱仪（energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, EDX）对样本进行分析，并针对牙釉质表面层，在三个时间点检测其显微硬度：治疗后即刻、24小时及48小时。扫描电子显微镜结构观察结果显示，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射线能谱分析表明，样本元素组成发生显著变化，尤其是氟（F）含量与钙磷（Ca/P）比值。相较于氟保护漆组，联合冷大气氦等离子体处理后，氟原子百分比从1.21%显著提升至7.31%。与此同时，钙磷比值从1.95升至2.39，表明牙釉质抗降解能力得到提升。此外，显微硬度评估结果显示，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，该组维氏硬度较氟保护漆组提升24%。这种治疗牙病的新型方法为龋病预防提供了极具前景的解决方案。