Instant and Lasting Relief Effects of Strontium Chloride/Potassium Nitrate Dentifrice on Dentin Hypersensitivity

Instant and Lasting Relief Effects of Strontium Chloride/Potassium Nitrate Dentifrice on Dentin Hypersensitivity

A Randomized, Double-blind Clinical Trial to Assess the Instant and Lasting Relief Effects of a Dentifrice Containing 2% Strontium Chloride and 5% Potassium Nitrate on Dentin Hypersensitivity

The objective of the present study was to compare the effects of a commercially available dentifrice containing 2% strontium chloride and 5% potassium nitrate in a silica base, versus a control dentifrice, containing exactly the same ingredients apart from strontium chloride and potassium nitrate, on the instant and lasting relief of DH.

Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is a very common complaint that occurs in the general population. The intensity of the pain can be minor to very serious, which may prevent one from eating or performing ordinary oral hygiene practices. The most accepted mechanism by which DH occurs is hydrodynamic theory, which suggests that pain-producing stimuli cause rapid movement of fluid within the dentin tubules, as a result the free nerve endings, at the inner ends of the tubules or the periphery of the pulp, are excited and DH occurs. According to this theory, one approach to treat DH is reducing dentin tubule fluid movement through occluding open tubules. Strontium chloride was the first tubule-blocking ingredient used in dentifrice about fifty years ago and since that time a paucity of clinical studies have been carried out to test its effectiveness on DH. The other approach is to reduce the pulp nerve excitability by depolarizing the nerve endings, in which the most widely used material is potassium salts. Although there is limited clinical evidence that dentifrices containing strontium chloride or potassium nitrate alone, as the major desensitizing agent, has an effect on reducing DH, no clinical studies have shown the effectiveness of a dentifrice containing both strontium chloride and potassium nitrate in a silica base on alleviating DH.

Immediately after dentifice use, tactile hypersensitivity assessments were done using an Electronic Force Sensing Probe (Yeaple Probe Model 200A, Xinix Research Inc., USA). Scores were recorded in terms of a quantified force applied by a #19 explorer tip. After presetting the probe to 10 grams, the tip of the probe was run across the exposed dentin perpendicular to the examined surface. Subsequent passes were made, each time the applied force was increased by 10 grams, until the subject indicated that he/she was experiencing discomfort, or until the maximum force of 50 grams had been reached.

The tooth was isolated. Air was delivered from a standard dental unit air syringe and directed at the exposed buccal surface of the hypersensitive tooth for 1 second. The Schiff Cold Air Sensitivity Scale was used to assess the subjects' response. 0 - Subject does not respond to air stimulus; - Subject responds to air stimulus, but does not request discontinuation of stimulus; - Subject responds to air stimulus and requests discontinuation or moves from stimulus; - Subject responds to air stimulus, considers stimulus to be painful, and requests discontinuation of the stimulus.

After 3 days, tactile hypersensitivity assessments were done using an Electronic Force Sensing Probe (Yeaple Probe Model 200A, Xinix Research Inc., USA). Scores were recorded in terms of a quantified, reproducible force applied by a #19 explorer tip. After presetting the probe to 10 grams, the tip of the probe was run across the exposed dentin perpendicular to the examined surface. Subsequent passes were made, each time the applied force was increased by 10 grams, until the subject indicated that he/she was experiencing discomfort, or until the maximum force of 50 grams had been reached.

After 3 days, tooth was isolated. Air was delivered from a standard dental unit air syringe and directed at exposed buccal surface of the hypersensitive tooth for 1 second. The Schiff Cold Air Sensitivity Scale was used to assess the subjects' response. 0 - Subject does not respond to air stimulus; - Subject responds to air stimulus, but does not request discontinuation of stimulus; - Subject responds to air stimulus and requests discontinuation or moves from stimulus; - Subject responds to air stimulus, considers stimulus to be painful, and requests discontinuation of the stimulus.

Inclusion Criteria: good oral and general health possessing at least two teeth (incisors, cuspids, bicuspids and first molars with exposed cervical dentin) with hypersensitivity on facial surfaces which satisfied a tactile hypersensitivity stimulus score of 10-50 grams of force (Yeaple probe) and an air blast stimulus score of 2 or 3(Schiff Cold Air Scale) provided informed consent and were available for the study duration Exclusion Criteria: progressive periodontitis, with teeth that had extensive restoration, suspected pulpitis, caries, cracked enamel or that were used as abutments for removable partial dentures, had hypersensitive teeth with a mobility greater than one had received periodontal treatment including surgery during the last year had used any other anti-hypersensitivity dentifrice or taken part in any other clinical trial, used any desensitizing agents during the last three months, or allergic to the ingredients of the dentifrices were excluded pregnant or breastfeeding women had taken the following drugs during the last month: anticonvulsants, antihistamines, antidepressants, sedatives, tranquilizers, anti-inflammatory drugs or daily analgesics

Fu Y, Li X, Que K, Wang M, Hu D, Mateo LR, DeVizio W, Zhang YP. Instant dentin hypersensitivity relief of a new desensitizing dentifrice containing 8.0% arginine, a high cleaning calcium carbonate system and 1450 ppm fluoride: a 3-day clinical study in Chengdu, China. Am J Dent. 2010 May;23 Spec No A:20A-27A.

Liu H, Hu D. Efficacy of a commercial dentifrice containing 2% strontium chloride and 5% potassium nitrate for dentin hypersensitivity: a 3-day clinical study in adults in China. Clin Ther. 2012 Mar;34(3):614-22. doi: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2012.01.027. Epub 2012 Mar 3.