The use of a profilometer for both quantitative and qualitative measurements of toothpaste abrasivity.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the abrasivity of different toothpastes both quantitatively and qualitatively with a profilometer technique and to correlate these findings to the radioactive dentin abrasivity (RDA) value.


METHODS
Acrylic plates were exposed to brushing in a brushing machine with 11 different toothpastes. The results were evaluated using a profilometer. A surface roughness value (Ra-value), that is, a qualitative measurement, and also a volume value, that is, a quantitative measurement, were calculated from the profilometer results. These values were then correlated to each other and to the RDA-value. A comparison between RDA, Ra and volume measurements was performed using linear fitting procedure.


RESULTS
The results showed that the correlation between RDA and Ra measurements was low (R(2) = 0.04) and also that the correlation between RDA and volume measurements was low (R(2) = 0.00002). Correlation between Ra and abraded volume was high (R(2) = 0.87).


CONCLUSIONS
It is important to consider not only the RDA-value when evaluating toothpaste abrasivity. From the profilometer results both a quantitative (volume) and qualitative (roughness) measurement of the abrasivity of a toothpaste can be obtained.
Liljeborg
A
A
KTH-Albanova, Nanostructurephysics, Stockholm, Sweden. anders@biox.kth.se
Tellefsen
G
G
Johannsen
G
G
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000009:adverse effects; D003804:Dentin / Q000473:pathology; D008422:Materials Testing; D010710:Phosphates / Q000009:adverse effects; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects; D013499:Surface Properties; D014072:Tooth Abrasion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D010710:Phosphates; D014100:Toothpastes; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; C018279:sodium phosphate