Efficacy of an experimental toothpaste containing 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate in the relief of dentin hypersensitivity: An 8-week randomized study (Study 1).
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of an experimental toothpaste containing 5% (w/w) calcium sodium phosphosilicate (CSPS) in relieving dentin hypersensitivity (DH) compared with control toothpastes containing no known anti-sensitivity ingredients.


METHODS
This was the first of two exploratory, randomized, four-treatment, examiner-blind, parallel-design, single-site, 8-week studies in healthy subjects with self-reported and clinically diagnosed DH. The experimental toothpaste contained 5% CSPS with a modified surfactant system, developed to enhance its organoleptic properties. Efficacy was evaluated against an abrasivity-matched placebo formulation (0% CSPS) with additional abrasive silica replacing the CSPS, and two commercially available fluoride toothpastes as controls. After an initial lead-in period, subjects were randomized to one of the four study treatments and instructed to brush twice daily for the next 8 weeks. DH was assessed at baseline and following 4 and 8 weeks of treatment by response to tactile and evaporative (air) stimuli, and using a Dentine Hypersensitivity Experience Questionnaire (DHEQ; a validated quality-of-life measure for DH).


RESULTS
A total of 134 subjects were randomized and completed the study. All treatments demonstrated statistically significant reductions in sensitivity from baseline at Week 4 and Week 8 for each clinical measure of sensitivity (all P ≤ 0.001). The 0% CSPS toothpaste demonstrated small but statistically significant reductions in Schiff sensitivity score compared with the other study toothpastes at Week 8 (all P< 0.05), whereas the experimental 5% CSPS toothpaste significantly improved the tactile threshold at Week 4 compared with the 0% CSPS toothpaste (P = 0.0467). The DHEQ responses did not reveal any consistent statistically significant within-treatment changes from baseline or between-treatment differences. Correlation analysis showed weak-to-moderate associations between the DHEQ outcomes and clinical endpoints. Study treatments were well tolerated. The treatment differences observed in this exploratory study were small and inconsistent between measures. The reasons for the inconsistencies are not clear but may be related to the properties of the abrasivity-matched 0% CSPS formulation, with the increased level of dental silica conferring an advantage in terms of reducing DH. The ability of dental silicas to occlude exposed dentin tubules and thereby reduce DH has been demonstrated in previous studies, and may warrant further clinical investigation.
Farzana
F
Sufi
Claire
C
Hall
Stephen
S
Mason
David
D
Shaw
Liam
L
Kennedy
John T
JT
Gallob
D000328:Adult; D057133:Dentin Desensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017640:Silicates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000737:chemistry*; D055815:Young Adult
D057133:Dentin Desensitizing Agents; D017640:Silicates; D014100:Toothpastes