Dentin hypersensitivity can have significant detrimental effects on your patients’ wellbeing and quality of life. When it begins to interfere with oral hygiene, it can also lead to poor oral health outcomes. Providing effective solutions for this prevalent condition is a priority for every dental professional, and Colgate’s Pro-Argin technology is helping dentists lead the way. We discuss how this innovative technology works to provide patients with rapid and long-lasting relief from dentin hypersensitivity.
Pro-Argin technology and dentin hypersensitivity
Dentin hypersensitivity is characterized by a short, sharp pain arising from open dentin tubules in exposed dentin in response to external stimuli, which cannot be attributed to any other defect or disease. The widely accepted hydrodynamic theory proposes that stimuli can alter the behavior of fluid in the dentin tubules, activating intra-dental nerve fibers and causing pain.
Dentin hypersensitivity treatments work in one of two ways. Desensitizing toothpastes depolarize the nerves to reduce pain signals to the brain, while occlusives block the dentin tubules to prevent painful stimuli affecting dentinal fluids.
Pro-Argin technology is occlusive. It uses an 8% arginine and calcium carbonate formulation to quickly seal the open dentin tubules, replicating and enhancing the natural mechanism of hypersensitivity relief. Further, it leaves a durable, mineral-enriched layer on the exposed dentin to help protect against future dentin hypersensitivity.
Pro-Argin technology can be found in Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief Toothpaste, sold as Colgate Sensitive Instant Relief in the UK and elmex Sensitive Professional in Europe. The benefits are backed by over a decade of clinical research, summarized as follows.
Effective occlusion
Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief was compared to a leading brand of desensitizing toothpaste containing stannous fluoride in a laboratory study, with confocal laser scanning microscopy and a novel imaging program used to qualify dentinal tubule occlusion. Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief was found to achieve 91% dentin occlusion, compared to 67% for the stannous fluoride toothpaste. Another study by Hines et al. compared the Pro-Argin formulation with a calcium sodium phosphosilicate toothpaste, demonstrating 88% versus 50% occlusion respectively.
Instant relief
Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief can be applied directly to the affected area for almost instant relief. For patients in the dental chair, it can be used to rapidly ease hypersensitivity pain, facilitate examinations and make dental procedures more comfortable.
Two double-blind randomized clinical studies by Nathoo et al. and Ayad et al. compared Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief to another leading brand that desensitizes with a 2% potassium ion formula. In each study, a single fingertip application of Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief was found to provide significant immediate relief relative to the comparative toothpaste, a result that was maintained over the subsequent three days with twice-daily brushing with the same toothpaste.
Long-lasting protection
The relief from sensitivity offered by Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief is proven to last. Docimo et al. observed a significantly greater reduction in sensitivity from air and tactile stimuli when compared to a potassium ion toothpaste, an effect sustained at two, four and eight weeks of use. The arginine, calcium carbonate and phosphate plug created by Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief remains intact with ongoing use, even when exposed to acid challenges.
A solution for every patient
While your patients may have dentine hypersensitivity in common, their oral care needs will vary. The Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief range features toothpastes that provide relief for sensitive teeth while addressing other common oral health concerns:
Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief Repair and Prevent to protect against gingival recession.
Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief Enamel Repair to strengthen weakened enamel and prevent enamel loss.
Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief Whitening for improved stain removal.
Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief Multi Protection, offering all of the above benefits in one convenient formula.
Many patients tolerate the pain of sensitive teeth because they’re unaware of simple but highly effective answers like Pro-Argin technology. When you recommend Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief, you can help your dentin hypersensitivity patients to enjoy a pain-free life, confident in the knowledge that you’re providing a highly effective, evidence-based solution.
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