Assessment of tubule occlusion properties of an experimental stannous fluoride toothpaste: A randomised clinical in situ study

fluoride toothpaste: a randomised clinical in situ study Objectives: To evaluate the ability of a modified in situ model to differentiate dentinal tubule occlusion properties of toothpaste formulations over 10 days of treatment. Methods: This was a single-centre, three-treatment period, crossover, randomised, single-blind study with healthy participants wearing two lower oral appliances, each retaining four dentine samples, for 10 treatment days during each period of the study. Samples were power-brushed ex vivo twice on each treatment day with a Test toothpaste containing 0.454% stannous fluoride, a Control fluoride toothpaste containing 0.76% sodium monofluorophosphate, or mineral water. Dentine samples were subjected to in situ acid challenge (orange juice) on Days 9 and 10. Scanning electron microscopy images obtained at baseline and after 1, 4, 8 and 10 days of treatment were graded for degree of surface coverage by four calibrated examiners; the primary study endpoint was Day 8. Results: After 4, but not 8, days’ treatment, the degree of tubule occlusion increased in the dentine samples treated with the Test or Control toothpastes compared with the water-treated samples (p