CLINICAL COMPARISON OF 5% FLUORO CALCIUM PHOSPHOSILICATE VERSUS 5% CALCIUM SODIUM PHOSPHOSILICATE IN THE TREATMENT OF DENTINAL HYPERSENSITIVITY
Dentinal hypersensitivity is a perplexing problem for the patient as well as clinician. Among the plethora of pharmacological agents developed for the management of this rather common affliction, tubule occluding agents form the mainstay of treatment. Bioglasses (phosphosilicates) with evolving chemical and biological properties, are widely used, with the latest modification being the addition of fluoride to conventional calcium sodium phosphosilicate (Novamin) to result in fluoro calcium phosphosilicate (Biomin), purported to have superior tubule occlusive properties. The present study was designed as randomized clinical trial to compare the efficacy of Biomin and Novamin in reducing the subjective and provoked (thermal) experience of dentinal hypersensitivity. Sixty subjects were randomly prescribed three dentifrices after oral prophylaxis: Group A (20 patients): dentifrice containing 5% fluoro calcium phosphosilicate (Biomin); Group B (20 patients): dentifrice containing 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate (Novamin); Group C (20 patients): standard dentifrice containing fluoride. Subjective and thermal sensitivity was assessed using a 10 point VAS score at baseline, at 15 days, 30 days and 60 days of treatment. It was found that though significant reduction in hypersensitivity was observed for all three groups over time, flouro calcium phosphosilicate was most effective in reducing the VAS score, followed by calcium sodium phosphosilicate and fluoride. It was concluded that fluoro calcium phosphosilicate is a promising agent for clinical management of dentinal hypersensitivity.