Tooth sensitivity and hypersensitivity is essentially pain due to stimulation of intradental nerves. Exposure of the dentin layer and patency of its corresponding tubules is agreed to be the main contributor of this stimulation. Common methodologies go about subsequent desensitization in two general ways: nerve depolarization or tubular occlusion. Both seek to mitigate the same problem: the pain generated by various extreme stimuli—thermal or hot/cold stimuli, being the most common. This research was aimed at the activation of inactive ingredients of a dentifrice by the pre-treatment of the dentin substrate with a polysaccharide, aqueous (aq.) solution of chondroitin sulfate (ChS), which is found naturally in the dentin matrix, and L-arginine, a naturally occurring amino-acid. Herein, we report a study that examines in an in vitro environment the potential of ChS and L-arginine to aid in the effectiveness of adhesion of toothpaste components to the tooth surface. The evaluation of two over-the-counter dentifrices Colgate® Cavity Protection and Sensodyne® Pronamel®, a toothpaste marketed specifically for addressing pain related to tooth sensitivity, is conducted in conjunction with the proposed pretreatment formulation. We found that: (i) Pre-treatment of dentin samples by an aq. solution of ChS significantly increased adhesion of the TiO2 excipient from commercial toothpastes such as Sensodyne®. (ii) The deposit of a toothpaste excipient on dentin was resistant to washing with water and ultrasonication challenge. (iii) Pre-treatment of dentin samples by an aq. solution of ChS did not result in adhesion of non-TiO2 containing commercial toothpastes such as Colgate® However, when Colgate® was mixed with 5wt% hydroxyapatite or calcium carbonate, the adhesion of particles to tooth surface and occlusion of dentinal tubules was significantly increased. (iv) Pre-treatment of dentin with L-arginine does improve adhesion of calcium carbonate particles, but not as efficiently as ChS. The collected data may aid in the development of two-step protocols of desensitizing dentifrice application and desensitizing formulations superior to the existing calcium carbonate – L-arginine complex.

Pre-treatment of dentin with chondroitin sulfate modulates dentinal tubule occlusion by toothpaste components

2019 Spring National Meeting

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