In vitro evaluation of Sensi-IP®: A soluble and mineralizing sensitivity solution

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Dental Materials
• Cariology

Background:

• Dentin hypersensitivity and enamel demineralization are significant dental concerns.
• Soluble bioactive glasses offer potential therapeutic solutions through tubule occlusion and remineralization.
• Sensi-IP®OG (SIP-OG) and Sensi-IP®FF (SIP-FF) are novel soluble bioactive glasses designed for dental applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of SIP-OG and SIP-FF in reducing dentin hypersensitivity by occluding dentin tubules.
• To assess the potential of SIP-OG and SIP-FF to recover enamel strength and promote remineralization.
• To compare the performance of SIP-OG and SIP-FF against commercially available dentin hypersensitivity toothpastes.

Main Methods:

• Standardized in vitro assessments using simulated brushing and pH cycling models.
• Visual occlusion methodology to score dentin tubule occlusion on a 5-point scale.
• Evaluation of fluoride uptake and surface microhardness recovery on enamel samples after acid challenge.

Main Results:

• SIP-OG demonstrated superior dentin tubule occlusion compared to commercial controls over 5 days of simulated use (p ≤ 0.05).
• SIP-FF with NaF also showed significant occlusion, particularly from day 2 onwards (p ≤ 0.05).
• Both SIP-OG and SIP-FF with NaF treatments resulted in significant surface microhardness recovery (59%) on demineralized enamel lesions.

Conclusions:

• Novel soluble bioactive glasses SIP-OG and SIP-FF provide superior dentin tubule occlusion compared to existing commercial toothpastes.
• Repeated application of these bioactive glasses leads to a cumulative occlusion effect, attributed to mineralization.
• The findings support the therapeutic potential of SIP-OG and SIP-FF for managing dentin hypersensitivity and enhancing enamel remineralization.