Comparative investigations of the desensitising efficacy of a new dentifrice.
OBJECTIVE
In two clinical trials of 8 weeks duration, the ability of a new dentifrice, containing potassium nitrate, stannous fluoride and sodium fluoride to reduce dentine hypersensitivity was compared with either a non-desensitising fluoride dentifrice or a commercially available desensitising dentifrice (Sensodyne F) to reduce dentine hypersensitivity.


METHODS
In both studies, the participants had to have at least two sensitive root surfaces. Subjects were stratified by baseline tactile and air blast sensitivity scores and the number of sensitive teeth and randomly allocated to 2 balanced groups. In the first study (N=81) the new dentifrice was compared with a fluoride dentifrice and in the second study (N=105) with Sensodyne F. Participants were requested to brush with their assigned dentifrice twice a day for one minute. At 4 and 8 weeks the sensitive teeth were again examined and their tactile and air blast sensitivity scores recorded.


RESULTS
In study 1, the group using the new dentifrice tolerated greater pressure after 4 (34.9 g) and 8 weeks (38.4 g) than the group using the fluoride dentifrice (22.9 g and 19.0 g, respectively). These differences were statistically significant (p<0.001). At 4 and 8 weeks, the mean air blast scores for the group using the new dentifrice (1.39 and 0.83) were lower than for the group using fluoride dentifrice (1.78 and 1.76) and were significantly different at 8 weeks (p<0.001). In study 2 the group using the new dentifrice tolerated greater pressure after 4 (40.5 g) and 8 weeks (43.7 g) than the group using Sensodyne F (27.8 g and 33.2 g, respectively). These differences were statistically significant (p<0.001). At 4 and 8 weeks, the mean air blast scores for the group using the new dentifrice (1.10 and 0.67) were significantly lower than the group using Sensodyne F (1.90 and 1.57) (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
These studies demonstrate that the new dentifrice, containing potassium nitrate, stannous fluoride and sodium fluoride is significantly better at reducing dentine hypersensitivity than both the dentifrice containing sodium fluoride and the one containing potassium chloride, triclosan and sodium fluoride (Sensodyne F).
Sowinski
J
J
Dental Hygiene Department, Erie County College, Williamsville, USA.
Ayad
F
F
Petrone
M
M
DeVizio
W
W
Volpe
A
A
Ellwood
R
R
Davies
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000388:Air; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003802:Dentifrices / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009566:Nitrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010710:Phosphates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017680:Potassium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011312:Pressure; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014002:Tin Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000503:physiopathology; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014110:Touch; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D003802:Dentifrices; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009566:Nitrates; D010710:Phosphates; D017680:Potassium Compounds; C097427:Sensodyne; D014002:Tin Fluorides; D014100:Toothpastes; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D012969:Sodium Fluoride; D005459:Fluorides; C023844:potassium nitrate