Papers by Author: S.O. Jang

Abstract: Carbonate apatite has a similar structure to the inorganic component of teeth and bone. Although carbonate apatite is widely used as a bone substitute, there are no reports on its use as a desensitizing dentifrice. This in vitro study evaluated the relative abrasivity of the dentifrice containing nano-sized carbonated apatite (n-CAPs) using a Surface Profile Method (SPM). The dentin specimens were made from the root of extracted human molars. The cervical part of the teeth was sectioned with a diamond wheel disk. The teeth were embedded into an epoxy resin mold and the surface was gradually polished using silicone carbide paper. After grinding, the degree of surface roughness was examined within the range of 2 mm with tapping. The British Standard Institution reference dentifrice (BSI: CaCO3 40%) and the experimental dentifrices (group 1: n-CAPs 30%, group 2: n-CAPs 15% and silica 15%, group 3: n-CAPs 5% and silica 25%, group 4: silica 30%, group 5: CaCO3 10% and SrCl2 10%) were compared. The dentifrice slurries were prepared by mixing 24 grams of the dentifrice in 12 ml distilled water. Each tooth specimen was brushed 1,000 times with the dentifrice slurries using a back-and-forth stroke. The relative abrasivity of each dentifrice was evaluated by determining the ratio of the BSI standard dentifrice to each experiment. The results were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparisons using Window SPSS (Statistical analysis system) 12.0. According to the results, Group 1 (3.2), which contained only n-CAPs appeared to have the lowest abrasivity than the BSI dentifrice (100). However, Groups 2 (124.2), 3 (137.9) and 4 (178.1), which contained n-CAPs and silica, appeared to have a higher abrasivity than the BSI dentifrice (p>0.05). The relative abrasivity of group 5 (38), which was a commercial desensitizing dentifrice, was relatively lower. It appears that the higher abrasivity of the experimental is due to the shape and size of the silica component. Therefore, n-CAPs itself has no influence on the abrasivity of the dentifrice. The main reason for the low abrasivity of n-CAPs is believed to be its small particle size (range 50-90nm).

Abstract: Exposed dentine with patent tubules allows the movement of tubule fluid leading to dentine sensitivity. Occlusion of patent dentinal tubules effectively reduces the state of dentine hypersensitivity. Strontium chloride (SrCl2) has been well known as a component of desensitizing dentifrice. Recently, new dentifrice containing sodium metasilicate was on the market for desensitizing dentifrice. The aim of this in vitro study was to compare the occlusion effect of dentinal tubule between the sodium metasilicate and the existing desensitizing dentifrices. Sixtyfour human dentine specimens were embedded into a Teflon mold and were grinded with the use of silicone carbide papers to expose the surface of dentin. The dentin surface was etched with 37% phosphoric acid for 60 seconds and was treated with ultrasonic washing for 1 hour. The dentifrices used in the study are classified into four groups: G1-dentifrice containing Sodium metasilicate, G2- dentifrice containing Strontium chloride, G3-dentifrice containing Hydroxyapatite and G4-BSI reference dentifrice (control group). Toothpaste slurries were prepared as 20 gram of toothpaste in 80 ml of distilled water. Thirty-two specimens were brushed with the toothpaste slurries using V8 Cross Brushing Machine. Tooth-brushing was performed 5,000 times using a back-and–forth stroke. The pictures of the sizes of dentinal tubules were taken by scanning electron microscopy (×3000) and changes of tubule sizes were analyzed by digital analysis. The results showed that the difference of tubule size in descending order: G1-3.30±1.80, G2-2.82±1.73, G3-1.49±1.14, G4- 1.04±0.94. The dentifrice containing Sodium metasilicate (22.5%) showed the highest dentinal tubule occlusion. Moreover, the dentifrice containing Sodium metasilicate statistically significantly increased occlusion of dentinal tubule as compared to BSI reference dentifrice (p<0.05). Thus, new desensitizing dentifrice containing sodium metasilicate was more effective than existing desensitizing dentifrice on occlusion of dentin tubules.

Abstract: This in vitro study compared the abrasivity of commercial desensitizing dentifrices with a sodium metasilicate (Na2SiO3) dentifrice using a Surface Profile Method. Dentin specimens were made from the root of extracted human molars. The cervical part of the teeth was sectioned with a diamond wheel disk. The teeth were embedded into an epoxy resin mold and the surface was gradually polished by silicone carbide paper. After grinding, the degree of surface roughness was tested within the range of 2 mm with tapping. The British Standard Institution reference dentifrice (BSI: CaCO3 40%) and experimental dentifrices (group 1: Na2SiO3 25%, CaCO3 10% and SiO2 10%, group 2: CaCO3 10% and SiO2 10%, group 3: CaCO3 10% and SrCl2 10%, group 4: Colloidal Silica 2-3% and Hydroxyapatite 10-20%) were evaluated. The dentifrice slurries were prepared by mixing 24 grams of the dentifrice in 12 ml distilled water. Each tooth specimen was brushed with the dentifrice slurries 1,000 times. The relative abrasivity of each dentifrice was evaluated from the ratio of the BSI standard dentifrice to each experiment. The results were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparisons using Window SPSS (Statistical analysis system) 12.0. Groups 1 (71), 2 (74.2), 3 (38) and 4 (7.8) showed a lower abrasivity than the BSI dentifrice (100) (p<0.05). The relative abrasivity of groups 3 (38) and 4 (7.8) was the lowest compared with the BSI dentifrice (100). However, group 1 (71) containing Na2SiO3 showed a similar abrasivity to group 2 (74.2), which did not contain Na2SiO3 (p>0.05). Therefore, Na2SiO3 had no influence on the abrasivity of the dentifrice. In conclusion, the dentifrice containing Na2SiO3 had a lower abrasivity than the BSI reference dentifrice, but showed a significantly higher abrasivity than the existing commercial desensitizing dentifrices. Overall, the relatively high abrasivity of Na2SiO3 dentifrice is believed to be the result of other components in the abrasive system.

Abstract: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the tooth whitening effect of toothpaste containing nano-sized hydroxyapatite (HA). There were 3 types of dentifrices, which had a different level of abrasive components. For group 1, a newly developed toothpaste containing Nano-sized hydroxyapatite (Nano-HA) was used. Commercially available toothpastes were used in groups 2 and 3. Group 2 used toothpastes containing silica and multi phosphate. Group 3 used toothpastes containing abrasives with silica and micro-sized HA. In order to simulate 6-months of tooth brushing, the tooth specimens in all 3 groups were placed on a V8 Cross Brushing Machine (Sabri Co. U.S.A.) and brushed 10,000 times with the toothpaste slurries. The tooth specimens were then soaked in artificial saliva for 24 hours to create conditions similar to those encountered in vivo. The whitening efficacy was assessed before and after tooth brushing using the VITA shade scores of Shadeeye-EX NCC Dental Chroma meter (Shofu Co. Japan). All toothpastes produced significant differences in the mean shade change in the teeth before and after tooth brushing (p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the change in the shade between each group (p>0.05). Although the new Nano-HA toothpaste did not have superior whitening effects to the commercially available whitening toothpastes, they had a similar whitening efficacy to commercially available whitening toothpastes. These effects might come from the physical properties of Nano HA, which increase the surface dimension more than the Micro-sized HA and have the potential of remineralization.

Abstract: Hydroxyapatite is the main component of enamel that gives the tooth a bright white appearance and eliminates the diffused reflection of light by filling up the fine pores of the tooth surface. Accordingly, remineralization of the teeth can be expected to some extent if hydroxyapatite is used to treat an incipient caries lesion (early white spot lesion). In addition, the remineralization effect will be increased if the particle size of hydroxyapatite can be reduced to less than that of the micron-size in existing toothpaste preparations. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste, which was produced by nano-technology, on the remineralization of human enamel. A tooth specimen, on which artificial incipient caries had been induced, was immersed into two toothpaste slurries for remineralization. One contains nano-sized hydroxyapatite and fluoride, and the other contains nano-sized hydroxyapatite excluding fluoride. In order to evaluate the remineralization effect, the Vickers Hardness Number & SEM image of the enamel surface was evaluated at each step. There were significant differences in VHN values between those obtained before and after the remineralization steps. The results showed that the remineralization effect increased with increasing immersing time (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in VHN values between the two groups (P>0.05). SEM also demonstrated differences the in micro surface at each step. In conclusion, a toothpaste containing nano-sized hydroxyapatite has the potential to remineralize an incipient caries lesion. In addition, the addition of fluoride had no synergistic effect on remineralization.