Effect of an 8.0% arginine and calcium carbonate desensitizing toothpaste on shear dentin bond strength

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of an 8.0% arginine and calcium carbonate desensitizing toothpaste (Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief) on shear bond strength of composites to bovine incisor dentin.

Bovine incisors were sectioned and prepared into 27 dentin specimens. The experimental group had 13 specimens treated for 10 sessions of two-minute brushing with an 8.0% arginine and calcium carbonate desensitizing toothpaste, followed by a 30-second agitated water wash. The control group had 14 specimens treated with flour of pumice only. Each specimen was dried, etched with 35% phosphoric acid for 15 seconds, and washed clean. A bonding agent was applied and polymerized. A 2.38 mm diameter column of Filtek Supreme A2 was bonded to the surface and polymerized as per manufacturer's instructions. Specimens were stored in water for at least 48 hours, subjected to a shear force at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/minute on an Instron mechanical testing device, and force at failure was recorded. A one-sided t-test was used to evaluate significant differences among the groups as measured by mean shear strength.

Mean shear force was 19.6 +/- 9.4 (SD) for the experimental group and 15.4 +/- 6.0 for the control group with p = 0.0291.

No significant differences were found for bond strength to dentin treated with an 8.0% arginine and calcium carbonate desensitizing toothpaste or pumice. Dentists can still achieve optimal dentin bonding results if a patient is using Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief to manage dentin hypersensitivity.