Dentin wear after simulated toothbrushing with water, a liquid dentifrice or a standard toothpaste

To investigate the influence of dentifrices with and without abrasives on the wear and surface topography of human dentin following simulated toothbrushing in vitro.

24 dentin specimens were prepared and randomly allocated to a liquid dentifrice (Garglin Gum-Guard), conventional dentifrice (333 Clinic Total Care), and control (distilled water) groups. Specimens were subjected to simulated toothbrushing of 50,000 repeated strokes under a 150 g-load. The dentin surface was profiled in each specimen using a profilometer before and after toothbrushing. The mean surface roughness (Ra) of the specimens was calculated and compared by one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc test (α = 0.05). The dentin surfaces were further examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

The Ra values were similar between the liquid dentifrice and control groups (P > 0.05), and was significantly higher in the conventional dentifrice group (P < 0.001). On SEM examination, patent dentin tubules were observed in the conventional dentifrice and liquid dentifrice groups, but were not observed in the control group.