Morphological and chemical effects of in-office and at-home desensitising agents containing sodium fluoride on eroded root dentin

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the morphological and chemical effect of in-office and at-home desensitising agents containing sodium fluoride (NaF) on eroded root dentine in vitro. MethodsFifty bovine dentine samples were pre-eroded and randomised into five groups (n = 10): G1 (Control) - milli-Q water; G2 - fluoride varnish containing NaF 22,500 ppm; G3 - desensitising cream containing NaF 9,000 ppm associated with 20% nanohydroxyapatite; G4 - toothpaste with NaF 5,000 ppm associated to tricalcium phosphate; G5 - toothpaste containing NaF 900 ppm and casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate fluoride (CPP-ACPF). The specimens were submitted to erosive challenge for three days. The analyses were performed using non-contact profilometry for volumetric (Sa) and linear roughness (Ra) followed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (EDS). The data were analysed by Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon tests (α = 0.05). ResultsThere was a significant reduction of Ra and Sa for the eroded samples from the G2 and G5 (p < 0.05) after an erosive challenge. The dentine surface topography pattern showed partially or totally occluded dentinal tubules after treatments, except in the control group. The control, G4 and G3 groups showed a reduction in the dentine inorganic content percentage of Ca (Calcium) and P (Phosphorus) minerals. ConclusionThe fluoride varnish and CPP-ACPF toothpaste were able to prevent morphological changes and were the only materials that showed the Ca and P content increased after treatment. These materials may be promising alternatives in the clinical control of dentin erosion.