In situ effect of dentifrices associated to CO2 laser in the permeability of eroded root dentin

The aim of this study was to evaluate, through a crossover 2×2 in situ trial, the effect of a desensitizing dentifrice associated with CO2 laser irradiation to control the permeability of eroded root dentin.

Facing the increased prevalence of erosive lesion and the need for preventive means to control painful symptoms related to them.

Eighty slabs of bovine root dentin were subjected to initial erosive challenge (citric acid 0.3%, 2 h), followed by a remineralizing period in artificial saliva (24 h). Specimens were then divided according to dentin treatment: desensitizing dentifrice, desensitizing dentifrice+CO2 laser, fluoride anticavity dentifrice. and fluoride anticavity dentifrice+CO2 laser. After a 2-day lead-in period, 10 volunteers wore an intraoral palatal appliance containing four root dentin slabs, in two phases of 5 days each. During the intraoral phase, one side of the appliance was immersed in 0.3% citric acid, and the opposite side was immersed in deionized water, four times a day. One hour after the immersions, all specimens were brushed with dentifrice slurry provided by the researcher. After a 7-day washout period, volunteers were crossed over on the different dentifrice group. Each phase having been completed, the specimens were evaluated for permeability through an optical microscope.

Data were analyzed using ANOVA and no significant difference (p=0.272) was found between the surface treatments performed on bovine root dentin.

It can be concluded that fluoride anticavity or desensitizing dentifrice, regardless of the association with the CO2 laser irradiation, was able to control the permeability of eroded root dentin.