Researchers at the New York University (NYU) College of Dentistryhave identified a new approach for treating tooth hypersensitivity,while simultaneously preventing bacteria from causing further harm.
The study found that a coating made from fluoride and zinc ions in acalcium-phosphate matrix proved effective in reversing damage to thetubules caused by Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium commonly associatedwith tooth decay. The coating not only caused the exposed tubules toclose again, but also prevented Streptococcus mutans from causingfurther damage.
Most toothpastes, protective strips, and other treatments for toothhypersensitivity use potassium oxalate to close the tubules. Butpotassium oxalate cannot prevent a recurrence of tooth hypersensitivitybecause it is highly susceptible to the effects of acids in tartar,plaque, citrus drinks, and other liquids.
The researchers compared two groups of dentin samples immersed for 24hours in a solution containing Streptococcus mutans. One group wastreated with the calcium-phosphate/fluoride/zinc formulation for 8minutes, while the second group received no treatment. Bacteriamultiplied on the untreated samples, but their growth and developmentwas inhibited on the treated dentin. The treated group also hadsignificantly fewer open tubules than the untreated one, according tothe researchers.
"Because the calcium, phosphate, and fluoride ions formed a solutionthat occluded the open dentin tubules, and the zinc ions inhibitedbacterial growth and colonization, our findings suggest that thisformulation may represent a tooth hypersensitivity treatment that isless susceptible to the effects of acid than treatments made withpotassium oxalate," said Racquel Z. LeGeros, PhD, one of the study’sprincipal investigators and professor and associate chair ofbiomaterials and biomimetics at the NYU College of Dentistry.
The findings were presented at the 2010 annual meeting of the International Association for Dental Research in Barcelona, Spain.
