title: Comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of desensitizing agents in dentine tubule occlusion using scanning electron microscopy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dentine hypersensitivity (DH) occurs on exposed dentine and is dependent on the patency of dentinal tubules. This study compared the effectiveness of red propolis extract (RPE), calcium sodium phosphosilicate (Novamin) and arginine-calcium carbonate (ACC) in occluding dentine tubules.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty dentine discs from extracted human molars were randomly divided into four groups (n=20): Group 1--RPE; Group 2--Novamin; Group 3--ACC; Group 4--saline. The discs were etched with 37.5% phosphoric acid and treated with the test agents. Ten treated discs from each group were then exposed to 6% citric acid challenge. The extent of tubule occlusion was assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Three blinded assessors scored each SEM image on the degree of tubule occlusion. Differences in occlusion were tested using ANOVA and Tukey adjustment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Discs treated with ACC demonstrated more tubule occlusion, followed by RPE and Novamin, and were greater in statistical significance when compared to discs treated with saline. Following acid challenge, RPE treated discs maintained more occlusion, followed by ACC and Novamin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All three agents demonstrated tubule occlusion. Although ACC showed more occlusion following treatment, RPE demonstrated a higher degree of occlusion following acid challenge.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parolia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pau
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Celerino de Moraes Porto
mesh_terms: D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000494:pharmacology; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000009:adverse effects; D003804:Dentin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D057133:Dentin Desensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000503:physiopathology; D005459:Fluorides / Q000494:pharmacology; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010710:Phosphates / Q000494:pharmacology; D010756:Phosphoric Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D011429:Propolis / Q000494:pharmacology; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D057133:Dentin Desensitizing Agents; C510984:NovaMin; D010710:Phosphates; D010756:Phosphoric Acids; D014100:Toothpastes; C585805:pro-argin; D019343:Citric Acid; D011429:Propolis; D001120:Arginine; C030242:phosphoric acid; D002119:Calcium Carbonate; D005459:Fluorides
keywords: Arginine-calcium carbonate; calcium sodium phosphosilicate; dentine hypersensitivity; red propolis extract; scanning electron microscopy