The Effect of Black Charcoal Versus Calcium Silicate and Sodium Phosphate in Occluding Dentinal Tubules and Its Resistance to Acidic Soft Drinks: An In Vitro Study

Abstract

Aims Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is considered the oldest chief complaint in which people are seeking solutions. One of the methods of reducing DH is the calcium silicate and sodium phosphate (CSSP) toothpaste which claim to occlude the dentinal tubules (DT) and withstand the acidic soft drink challenge. Black charcoal (BC) toothpaste is a nowadays trend worldwide, that is, claimed by the manufacturers to have a remineralization action, which reduce DH by formation of precipitates on dentin surface. Accordingly, this study targeted to compare the BC-containing toothpaste versus that containing CSSP in occluding DT and evaluated their efficacy to withstand acidic soft drink challenge. Materials and Methods Sixty premolars were used in this study (n = 30). The dentin specimens were divided into two groups: Group 1 (G1) brushed with CSSP and group 2 (G2) brushed with BC for 3.5 min, then these specimens were subjected to acidic soft drink challenge for 10 min. The occluded DT were investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDXA) after brushing and after acid soaking. Statistical analysis was performed (P value ≤ 0.05). Results G1 and G2 showed a completely and partially obliterated DT after brushing, however, after soaking them in acids, G1 was resistant and there were a partially and fully occluded DT, while G2 showed a non-occluded DT with severe signs of destruction. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups after acid soaking. Conclusion The CSSP toothpaste is effective in reducing DH by formation of an acid-resistant precipitation on dentin surface, on the other hand, the BC can form a precipitation that cannot withstand the acids leaving a widely destructive DT.