Shaikh K, Pereira R, Gillam DG and Phad S
Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vitro effectiveness of two different bioglass-containing commercial desensitizing toothpastes together with a fluoride containing dentifrice as a control on dentinal tubule occlusion before and after a citric acid challenge and immersion in artificial saliva.
Methodology: Forty-five dentine specimens with patent tubules were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=15), Group A: brushing with Biomin (Elsenz®); Group B: brushing with Novamin (Sensodyne Repair®); and control Group C: brushing with fluoride (Colgate Total®). In each group, treated specimens were further subdivided into Subgroup A: directly underwent SEM, Subgroup B and C soaked in 0.3% citric acid and artificial saliva (Wet mouth®) for 5 minutes respectively. The percentage of tubule occlusion (%OCT) of representative images from each group was analyzed using an environmental scanning electron microscopy and were scored by blind review.
Conclusion: The %OCT with BioMin® containing dentifrice was significantly higher than NovaMin® and a control i.e., fluoride containing dentifrice. Biomin ® and Novamin® containing dentifrices showed significant citric acid resistant compared to the fluoride containing dentifrice although the BioMin® containing dentifrice significantly showed better resistant to a citric acid challenge than the NovaMin® containing dentifrice. Immersion in artificial saliva resulted in an increase in tubular occlusion for all groups which was insignificant.