Clinical effectiveness of a dentifrice containing fluoride and a citrate buffer system for treatment of dentinal sensitivity.

Four test dentifrices were evaluated in a double-blind investigation to determine their effect on dentinal sensitivity in 87 adult human participants. Baseline data were obtained by patient questionnaire, dental examination and by soliciting subjective responses to controlled osmotic, thermal and tactile stimuli. The four dentifrices were: (1) a placebo dentifrice, (2) a fluoride dentifrice containing 0.1% fluoride, (3) a 2% citrate buffered dentifrice in a pluronic gel and (4) a dentifrice containing 0.1% fluoride and 2% citrate buffer in a pluronic gel. Precipitated silica provided the abrasive for all dentifrices. Dentifrices were supplied to participants on a random basis, and participants were instructed to brush twice daily for 8 weeks. Responses to the three stimuli as accomplished at baseline were obtained at 2, 4 and 8 weeks on 81 participants. A statistically significant stimulus reduction was found between treatment groups to thermal stimulus at the 2-month interval (P = 0.048) and to the tactile stimulus at 2 weeks (P = 0.019). Both the citrate dentifrice and the citrate/fluoride dentifrices demonstrated significant efficiency in reducing sensitivity.