title: Dentin abrasivity of various desensitizing toothpastes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to compare the abrasivity of various commercially available toothpastes that claim to reduce dentin hypersensitivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dentin discs were prepared from 70 human extracted molars. The discs were etched with lemon juice for 5 min, and one half of the discs were covered with aluminum tape. Following this, they were brushed with 6 different toothpastes, simulating a total brushing time of 6 months. As a negative control, discs were brushed with tap water only. The toothpastes contained pro-arginine and calcium carbonate, strontium acetate, stannous fluoride, zinc carbonate and hydroxyapatite, new silica, or tetrapotassium pyrophosphate and hydroxyapatite. After brushing, the height differences between the control halves and the brushed halves were determined with a profilometer and statistically compared using a Mann-Whitney U test for independent variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant difference (p < 0.001) in height difference between the controls and the toothpaste-treated samples was found in all cases, except for the stannous fluoride-containing toothpaste (p = 0.583). The highest abrasion was found in the toothpaste containing zinc carbonate and hydroxyapatite, and the lowest was found in the toothpaste containing pro-arginine and calcium carbonate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Desensitizing toothpastes with different desensitizing ingredients have different levels of abrasivity, which may have a negative effect on their desensitizing abilities over a long period of time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Material Sciences in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany. wolfgang.arnold@uni-wh.de.
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Material Sciences in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany.
authors.forename: Ch
authors.initials: Ch
authors.lastname: Gröger
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Operative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bizhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Material Sciences in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Naumova
mesh_terms: D003807:Dentin Sensitivity; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008963:Molar; D014072:Tooth Abrasion / Q000139:chemically induced*; D014099:Toothbrushing; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D014100:Toothpastes
keywords: Dentin; Dentin tubules; Hypersensitivity; Root dentin; Toothpaste