Profile of high-fluoride toothpastes combined or not with functionalized tri-calcium phosphate on root dentin caries...

This in vitro study was conducted in two regimens hypothesizing that high-fluoride (F) toothpaste (5,000 µg F/g) with or without functionalized tri-calcium phosphate (f TCP) would provide additional protection against (1) root caries development and (2) progression. For both regimens, bovine root dentin specimens were used.

In regimen 1, 60 specimens were subjected daily to alternate immersions between demineralizing and remineralizing solutions for 7 days. The specimens were randomly distributed into four treatment groups (n=15) : non-F toothpaste; Colgate Total 12 (CT) (1,450 µg F/g); Colgate Prevident (CP) (5,000 µg F/g); and Clinpro 5000 (CL) (5,000 µg F/g) associated with (f TCP), and treated with toothpastes/water slurries (1:3 w/w) (5 minutes), twice a day. In regimen 2, the efficacy of the toothpastes to inhibit the progression of the developed lesions was assessed, using the previously described pH-cycling model without additional treatment. The response variables were based on the percentage of surface hardness change (ΔSH), cross-sectional hardness (ΔCSH), mineral content/lesion depth by transversal microradiography (TMR) and the alkali-soluble F uptake.

Both high-F toothpastes reduced initial dentin demineralization and increased the F uptake compared to non-F and conventional toothpastes (P< 0.05). In terms of caries lesion progression, all tested toothpastes were able to promote this protection.

High-F toothpastes, regardless of the presence of f TCP, were more effective than conventional F toothpaste in inhibiting initial root dentin demineralization.