Enamel Strengthening Efficacy of a New Dentifrice with Stannous Fluoride

Objectives: The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the enamel strengthening benefits of Colgate^® Total^SF in a side-by-side comparison with two other commercial dentifrices (Crest^® Pro-Health^® - Procter & Gamble Co. - and Sensodyne^® Pronamel^®- GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare) as well as one control sample.

Methods: A 10-day in vitro pH cycling protocol was conducted to evaluate the enamel strengthening benefit of four dentifrices. During each day’s cycling regimen, enamel disks were first treated with dentifrice slurry and artificial saliva. Then, enamel disks were challenged with 1% citric acid and subsequently remineralized in artificial saliva. The challenge/remineralization cycle was repeated four times per day. At the end of each day, the enamel disks were treated with dentifrice slurry for a second time. The Knoop microhardness values of the enamel were measured. Surface analysis for the enamel was achieved by atomic force microscopy and confocal microscopy. Furthermore, soluble fluoride concentrations of dentifrices were analyzed by testing the fluoride level in the supernatant of dentifrice slurries.
Results: The soluble fluoride level in new Colgate® Total^SF dentifrice was significantly higher than in Crest^® Pro-Health^®. After the pH cycling process, the microhardness value of enamel treated by Colgate^® Total^SF was found to be significantly higher than Crest^® Pro-Health^® , Sensodyne^® Pronamel^® and non-fluoride control. The enamel treated by Colgate^® Total^SF maintained the smoothest surface with surface roughness value significantly lower than enamel surfaces treated with Crest^® Pro-Health^® and non-fluoride control.
Conclusions: All three fluoride dentifrices demonstrated better enamel strengthening than non-fluoride dentifrice. Compared with Crest^® Pro-Health^® and Sensodyne^® Pronamel^®, Colgate^® Total^SF dentifrice with highly stabilized and bioavailable stannous fluoride provides more efficacious enamel strengthening.