Effects of desensitizing dentifrices on dentin tubule occlusion and resistance to erosive challenges

Efficiency of cavitary varnishes containing experimental bioglass particles in the occlusion of dentinal tubules

This research aims to evaluate the efficiency of cavitary varnishes containing experimental bioglasses in the occlusion of dentinal tubules. One hundred and sixty-eight cervical buccal dentin samples were obtained from bovine teeth. Samples were randomized into the following groups: I. Distilled Water (DW); II. Cavity Varnish (CV); III. Colgate® Sensitive Pro-Relief™ (CS); IV. 45S5 Bioglass (45S5); V. KSr Bioglass strontium potassium (KSr); VI. P Bioglass phosphorus (P); and VII. PSi Bioglass phosphorus silica (PSi). The treatments were applied to the surfaces of the samples, which were then subjected to simulated brushing. The samples were analyzed for a) characterization of bioactive glasses; b) surface roughness; c) descriptive analysis of the dentin surface; d) total versus occluded number of dentinal tubules; e) diameter of the dentinal tubules; f) chemical composition of the dentin surfaces, and g) dentin permeability. All groups treated with biomaterials without the brushing challenge showed an increase in roughness and (total or partial) occlusion of the dentinal tubules. The PSi group had the best values for occlusion, while the KSr group had the highest calcium and phosphorus concentrations. After the brushing challenge the roughness was controlled by the presence of biomaterials; 45S5, KSr, and PSi showed occlusion of the dentin tubules. All bioactive glasses showed reduced tooth permeability compared to distilled water. The PSi group had the smallest tubule diameter and highest phosphorus concentration. KSr and PSi bioglasses are promising materials for dentin occlusion and remineralization and are promising new biomaterials for the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity.

Advances in Preventive and Therapeutic Approaches for Dental Erosion: A Systematic Review

This review discusses both preventive measures and clinically implemented therapy procedures that have been developed recently for the prevention and treatment of tooth erosion.

METHODS

The databases PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were used for a thorough search. Studies on the prevention and treatment of dental erosion that were conducted in English and used in vitro were among the inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

The search turned up 391 papers in total, with 34 of those publications matching the requirements for inclusion. Varnishes, toothpastes, and solutions containing fluoride and other substances were used as preventive measures.

CONCLUSIONS

Dental erosion is a significant issue, and taking preventative steps is crucial to lessening the disease's spread and its effects. Interventions based on fluoride seem to be successful at halting erosion and encouraging remineralization. To effectively address severe tooth erosion, therapeutic methods, including composite restorations, prosthetic crowns, and veneers, are available. Dental erosion causes aesthetic and functional issues that are best addressed with less invasive treatments like direct composite restorations. To improve and broaden the range of available treatments for this common dental issue, additional research and development are required.

Nano-CT characterization of dentinal tubule occlusion in SDF-treated dentin

Dentin hypersensitivity is an oral health concern affecting a large percentage of the world's adult population. Occlusion of the exposed dentinal tubules is among the treatment options available, and silver diammine fluoride (SDF) is an occluding agent used for interrupting or dampening the stimulus of the dental pulp nerves that produce pain. In addition to dentin permeability testing, the evaluation of desensitizing agents occluding dentinal tubules strongly relies on microscopic techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Limitations of SEM are that it provides only surface images that lack detailed information on the depth of penetration and amount of material present within the treated specimen, and it is prone to sample preparation artifacts. Here, we present high-resolution X-ray computed tomography (nano-CT) as a potential method for investigating dentin specimens with occluded tubules. We studied human dentin treated with SDF as an exemplary dentinal occlusion treatment option. We evaluated the silver deposits formed on the dentin surface region near the dentinal tubules and in the tubular regions using cross-section SEM, Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, and nano-CT. The resulting images obtained by SEM and nano-CT had comparable resolutions, and both techniques produced images of the tubules' occlusion. Nano-CT provided three-dimensional images adequate to quantitate tubule size and orientation in space. Moreover, it enabled clear visualization of dentinal tubules in any virtual plane and estimation of the amount and depth of occluding material. Thus, nano-CT has the potential to be a valuable technique for evaluating the occluding effects of virtually any material applied to dentinal tubules, supporting deciding between the best occluding treatment options.

In vitro evaluation of remineralizing agents on dentinal tubule occlusion: A scanning electron microscopic study

Context

Over the years, numerous treatment modalities have been researched for the management of dentinal hypersensitivity. A recent remineralizing agent containing a phase of amorphous calcium phosphate combined with fluoride has shown the ability to rapidly convert into biomimetic hydroxyapatite. This potential can be utilized in occluding the dentinal tubules for the treatment of hypersensitivity.

Aims

The present study aims to compare the effectiveness of biomimetic hydroxyapatite-based tooth mousse and casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) tooth mousse as desensitizing agents on dentinal tubule occlusion.

Materials and Methods

The in vitro study design involved 30 prepared dentin specimens that were divided into three groups: Group A: negative control, Group B: CPP-ACP tooth mousse (GC tooth mousse™), and Group C: fluoride-doped amorphous calcium phosphate (F-ACP) tooth mousse (Curasept Biosmalto Denti Sensibili Tooth Mousse). The specimens were observed under a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an attached energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy apparatus after 1 week.

Statistical Analysis

The data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis test and post hoc Mann-Whitney test for intragroup and intergroup analysis, respectively.

Results

The SEM analysis of the F-ACP group showed statistically greater percentage of tubule occlusion (40.21%) compared to the CPP-ACP group (38.15%). EDX analysis of both F-ACP and CPP-ACP groups revealed calcium, phosphorus, carbon, oxygen, and silica with an additional fluoride element in the F-ACP group.

Conclusions

In the present study, both remineralizing agents were able to occlude the dentinal tubules. Among the two, the F-ACP tooth mousse showed greater tubule occlusion, and therefore, appears promising as an upcoming remineralizing agent in the management of dentinal hypersensitivity.

Treatment Durations and Whitening Outcomes of Different Tooth Whitening Systems

Background and Objectives: Tooth whitening is a relatively conservative and effective option to treat discolored teeth. However, questions remain whether in-office or at-home tooth whitening products with short treatment durations are as effective and stable as products with longer treatment durations. Materials and Methods: Forty human third molars with intact enamel surfaces were divided into four groups of ten each, subjected to discoloration challenges with coffee for 60 h, and they were treated with four professional tooth whitening systems: two for take-home use-6% hydrogen peroxide for 30 min/d for a total of 7 h in 14 days (HP6), 10% carbamide peroxide for 10 h/d for 140 h in 14 days (CP10), as well as two for in-office use-35% HP for 10 min × 3 (HP35) for a total of 30 min and 40% HP for 20 min × 3 (HP40) for a total of 60 min. Teeth colors were assessed in the CIE L*a*b* color space with a spectrophotometer immediately and six months after whitening treatments. Surface roughness (Sa) for the treated and untreated enamel surfaces of the teeth in all groups were evaluated with a three-dimensional laser scanning microscope after six months. Results: No significant differences were found between HP6 and CP10 groups immediately after whitening (∆E 10.6 ± 1.6 vs. 11.4 ± 1.7, p > 0.05) and at six months after treatments (∆E 9.0 ± 1.9 vs. 9.2 ± 2.5, p > 0.05), or between HP35 and HP40 groups immediately after whitening (∆E 5.9 ± 1.2 vs. 5.3 ± 1.7, p > 0.05) and at six months after treatments (∆E 7.2 ± 1.6 vs. 7.7 ± 1.3, p > 0.05). The two at-home whitening systems achieved significantly better whitening outcomes than the two in-office products immediately after whitening (p < 0.05). However, at six months after treatments, the differences between at-home and in-office treatments had narrowed significantly (p > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences with respect to the Sa values between the treated and untreated surfaces (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Tooth whitening products in the same product category have similar whitening efficacies, despite significant differences in treatment durations (7 vs. 140 h, and 30 min vs. 60 min, respectively). Take-home products achieved better whitening outcomes than in-office products, but they needed 14 to 280 times longer treatment durations.