Dentin abrasivity of various desensitizing toothpastes

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Dental Materials Science

Background:

• Dentin hypersensitivity is a common clinical condition.
• Toothpastes claiming to reduce dentin hypersensitivity often contain various active ingredients.
• The abrasivity of these toothpastes can impact their efficacy and long-term effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the abrasivity of commercially available toothpastes formulated to alleviate dentin hypersensitivity.

Main Methods:

• Human dentin discs were prepared and artificially sensitized.
• Samples were subjected to brushing with six different desensitizing toothpastes or tap water (control) for a simulated period of six months.
• Profilometry was used to measure abrasion, with statistical analysis performed using the Mann-Whitney U test.

Main Results:

• All tested toothpastes, except one containing stannous fluoride, demonstrated significant dentin abrasion compared to the control.
• The toothpaste with zinc carbonate and hydroxyapatite exhibited the highest level of abrasion.
• The toothpaste containing pro-arginine and calcium carbonate displayed the lowest abrasivity.

Conclusions:

• Commercially available desensitizing toothpastes possess varying degrees of abrasivity.
• High abrasivity may potentially compromise the long-term effectiveness of dentin hypersensitivity treatments.