A 3-day randomised clinical study investigating the efficacy of two toothpastes, designed to occlude dentine tubules, for the treatment of dentine hypersensitivity.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

A product comparison study to compare the short term clinical efficacy of a strontium acetate/silica toothpaste with an arginine/calcium carbonate paste for pain reduction in dentine hypersensitivity.

METHODS:

The study was examiner blind of two arm parallel design. Eighty healthy adult subjects from general dental practice with ≥2 sensitive teeth but otherwise good oral health, were enrolled and randomised to 1 of 2 toothpaste treatments, schedule provided by the sponsor. Almost equal numbers received each treatment. Tooth sensitivity was measured in three ways; evaporative (Schiff score; Visual Analogue Scale) and tactile stimuli (Yeaple probe), prior to and immediately after subjects' self application of a single pea sized dose of toothpaste, and following subsequent twice daily brushing for three days with the paste.

RESULTS:

All 80 subjects completed the study. Results confirm that for both treatments, pain was reduced immediately and relief was sustained after 3 days use. For all 3 measures, benefit was similar between the two pastes, with no statistical or clinical difference demonstrated, apart from response to evaporative stimulus at 3 days, where Schiff scores were significantly lower in the arginine group, p=0.02.

CONCLUSIONS:

It can be concluded that both desensitising, occluding toothpastes provided reduction of pain from dentine hypersensitivity on a short term basis: toothpastes appearing to be clinically similarly effective both after a single subject dab on application and post twice daily brushing for three days. National Research Ethics Service register number 09/H020/57.

• Authors: N West, R G Newcombe, N Hughes, S Mason, B Maggio, F Sufi, N Claydon
• Journal: Journal of dentistry (J Dent) Vol. 41 Issue 2 Pg. 187-94 (Feb 2013) ISSN: 1879-176X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23160037 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Acetates
• Cariostatic Agents
• Dentin Desensitizing Agents
• Phosphates
• Toothpastes
• fluorophosphate
• strontium acetate
• Silicon Dioxide
• Sodium Fluoride
• Arginine
• Calcium Carbonate
• Fluorides
• Strontium

Topics

• Acetates (therapeutic use)
• Adult
• Arginine (therapeutic use)
• Calcium Carbonate (therapeutic use)
• Cariostatic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Cold Temperature
• Dentin (drug effects, ultrastructure)
• Dentin Desensitizing Agents (therapeutic use)
• Dentin Sensitivity (drug therapy, prevention & control)
• Desiccation
• Female
• Fluorides (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Male
• Pain Measurement
• Pain Threshold (drug effects)
• Phosphates (therapeutic use)
• Physical Stimulation
• Silicon Dioxide (therapeutic use)
• Single-Blind Method
• Sodium Fluoride (therapeutic use)
• Strontium (therapeutic use)
• Toothpastes (therapeutic use)
• Touch (physiology)
• Treatment Outcome