title: Effectiveness of various toothpastes on dentine tubule occlusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dentine hypersensitivity is an increasing problem in dentistry. Several products are available that claim to occlude open dentine tubules and to reduce dentine hypersensitivity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of several different products on dentine tubule occlusion using qualitative and quantitative methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dentine discs were prepared from extracted human premolars and molars. The dentine discs were brushed with 6 different experimental toothpastes, 1 positive control toothpaste and 1 negative control without toothpaste; the brushing simulated a total brushing time of 1 year. Half of the discs were etched with lemon juice after toothpaste application. Standardized scanning electron microphotographs were taken and converted into binary black and white images. The black pixels, which represented the open dentine tubules, were counted and statistically evaluated. Then, half of the dentine discs were broken, and the occlusion of the dentine tubules was investigated using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of open dentine tubules decreased significantly after brushing with 5 of the 6 tested toothpastes. A significant effect was observed after acid erosion for 3 of the 6 tested toothpastes. EDS revealed partly closed dentine tubules after brushing with 3 toothpastes; however, no partly closed dentine tubules were observed after acid erosion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some toothpastes are capable of partial dentine tubule occlusion. This occlusion is unstable and can be removed with acid erosion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Desensitizing toothpastes are the most common products that are used against dentine hypersensitivity, and these toothpastes affect dentine tubule occlusion.
authors: Department of Biological and Material Sciences in Dentistry, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany. Electronic address: wolfgang.arnold@uni-wh.de.
authors: W H
authors: WH
authors: Arnold
authors: Department of Biological and Material Sciences in Dentistry, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Prange
authors: Department of Biological and Material Sciences in Dentistry, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany.
authors: E A
authors: EA
authors: Naumova
mesh_terms: D000143:Acids / Q000009:adverse effects; D003804:Dentin / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D057133:Dentin Desensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000143:Acids; D057133:Dentin Desensitizing Agents; D014100:Toothpastes
keywords: Dentine; Dentine tubules; Hypersensitivity; Root dentine; Toothpaste