The scientific rationale and development of an optimized dentifrice for the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity.

Purpose: To describe the development of a new dentin hypersensitivity treatment, Colgate Sensitive Maximum Strength dentifrice, containing 5% potassium nitrate as the anti-hypersensitivity active agent. The objective was to develop a home-use hypersensitivity dentifrice that would be superior to the market leader, improving on what is available, which also contains 5% potassium nitrate as the anti-hypersensitivity active agent.

Methods: In vivo (clinicals, taste evaluation and rat caries), in vitro (potassium flux) and analytical (rheology, dispensed volume, scanning electron microscopy, electron scanning chemical analysis and radioactive dentin abrasion) methods were performed.

Relationship between dentifrice fluoride concentration and clinical caries reduction.

Purpose: To review the published literature on clinical caries trials of fluoride dentifrices and to combine their results in order to evaluate the correlation between fluoride concentration in dentifrice formulations and their anticaries efficacy, i.e., the dose-response relationship.

Anticaries efficacy of a new dentifrice for hypersensitivity.

Purpose: To evaluate the expected anticaries efficacy of a new dentifrice containing stannous fluoride as the anticaries agent and potassium nitrate as the antihypersensitivity agent using a series of laboratory and animal studies.

Methods: Four surrogate studies were performed in this assessment including fluoride uptake in sound enamel, enamel solubility reduction, fluoride bioavailability and animal caries.

Results: Each of these studies indicated the new dentifrice for hypersensitivity (Colgate Sensitive Maximum Strength) was effective in inhibiting the caries process.