Comparative Evaluation of Erosive Impact of Pediatric Drugs on Primary Tooth Enamel: An In Vitro Study

Aim: The aim of the current investigation was to evaluate the erosive effects of three pediatric medications on primary tooth enamel. Materials and methods: A window section of 3 × 3 mm was drawn on the center of the coronal surface of 80 extracted anterior primary teeth, while the remaining portion was painted with nail polish. The samples were divided into four groups (n = 20)—group I: control—distilled water; group II: multivitamin syrup; group III: antibiotics; group IV: analgesics. Using a digital meter, the pH of every test medium was determined. A profilometer was used to measure enamel surface roughness, which determined enamel degradation. Each sample was immersed in 50 mL of the respective media for 5 minutes in each of the test groups once daily for 14 days. Data were recorded and statistically analyzed. Results: The maximum mean surface roughness values pre-and postimmersion in the multivitamin syrup group were 1.58 ± 0.09 and 2.96 ± 0.46, with a pH of 4.32 ± 0.01, followed by the analgesics group: 1.56 ± 0.14 and 2.12 ± 0.28, with a pH of 5.84 ± 0.02, respectively. In the antibiotics group, the pre-and postimmersion roughness values were 1.54 ± 0.42 and 2.04 ± 0.16, with a pH of 6.12 ± 0.02, while in the control group, they were 1.32 ± 0.18 and 1.54 ± 0.32, respectively. A statistically significant difference was found between the groups (p < 0.001). Conclusion: In conclusion, the multivitamin syrup group significantly increased the surface roughness value compared to the analgesics syrup and antibiotics syrup groups. Clinical significance: Dental caries is one of the most common oral illnesses. Children who have trouble swallowing pills and capsules frequently use syrups. Certain drugs have the potential to deteriorate dental cavities and erode tooth enamel. Parents are often unaware that sugar, which can erode primary teeth and lead to plaque buildup and dental caries, is an ingredient in many types of syrup used to create pediatric medications.