The effects of a novel Bioglass® dentifrice on dentine sensitivity:: a scanning electron microscopy investigation

Dentine sensitivity (DS) is a common condition which affects 8-35% of the population. Both In-Office and Over-the-Counter products have been used in treatment, usually occluding open dentine tubules on the exposed root surface. Currently there appears to be no ideal material which permanently occludes dentine tubules. Bioactive and biocompatible glasses are known to induce osteogenesis in physiological systems and may offer suitable materials for surface reactivity which could theoretically occlude tubules. A new dentifrice formulation containing a modified Bioglass(R) material replacing part of the abrasive silica component was compared with original 45S6 bioactive glass. Dentine discs were treated with original Bioglass(R), three coded dentifrices containing 0, 2.5 and 7.5% Bioglass(R) and two further selected dentifrice products. These specimens were prepared for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and viewed in a Cambridge stereoscan 90B. The results demonstrated that original bioactive glass particles covered the dentine surface and/or occluded dentine tubules, although this original formulation was easily dislodged. Dentifrice with different ratios of added Bioglass(R) was assessed to provide greater surface coverage and tubule occlusion than without Bioglass(R). It was concluded that the inclusion of bioactive glass particles in a suitably formulated vehicle may be an effective agent for the treatment of dentine sensitivity.