Controlled Toothbrush Abrasion of Softened Human Enamel

Vol. 42, No. 4, 2008

Free Abstract Article (References) Article (PDF 161 KB)

Original Paper

Controlled Toothbrush Abrasion of Softened Human Enamel
J. Voronets, T. Jaeggi, W. Buergin, A. Lussi

Department of Preventive, Restorative and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

Address of Corresponding Author

Caries Res 2008;42:286-290 (DOI: 10.1159/000148160)

Key Words

Abrasion
Erosion
Force measurement
Pellicle-like layer
Soft/hard toothbrushes

Abstract

The aim of this in vitro study was to compare toothbrush abrasion of softened enamel after brushing with two (soft and hard) toothbrushes. One hundred and fifty-six human enamel specimens were indented with a Knoop diamond. Salivary pellicle was formed in vitro over a period of 3 h. Erosive lesions were produced by means of 1% citric acid. A force-measuring device allowed a controlled toothbrushing force of 1.5 N. The specimens were brushed either in toothpaste slurry or with toothpaste in artificial saliva for 15 s. Enamel loss was calculated from the change in indentation depth of the same indent before and after abrasion. Mean surface losses (95% CI) were recorded in ten treatment groups: (1) soft toothbrush only [28 (17–39) nm]; (2) hard toothbrush only [25 (16–34) nm]; (3) soft toothbrush in Sensodyne MultiCare slurry [46 (27–65) nm]; (4) hard toothbrush in Sensodyne MultiCare slurry [45 (24–66) nm]; (5) soft toothbrush in Colgate sensation white slurry [71 (55–87) nm]; (6) hard toothbrush in Colgate sensation white slurry [85 (60–110) nm]; (7) soft toothbrush with Sensodyne MultiCare [48 (39–57) nm]; (8) hard toothbrush with Sensodyne MultiCare [40 (29–51) nm]; (9) soft toothbrush with Colgate sensation white [51 (37–65) nm]; (10) hard toothbrush with Colgate sensation white [52 (36–68) nm]. Neither soft nor hard toothbrushes produced significantly different toothbrush abrasion of softened human enamel in this model (p > 0.05).

Author Contacts

Julia Voronets
Department of Preventive, Restorative and Pediatric Dentistry
University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 7
CH–3010 Bern (Switzerland)
Tel. +41 31 632 86 02, Fax +41 31 632 98 75, E-Mail voronets.julia@freesurf.ch

Article Information

Received: February 4, 2008
Accepted after revision: May 27, 2008
Published online: July 29, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 20

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