Abstract
Prophylaxis paste treatments commonly used in dental visits work to remove the stains from patients teeth through the mechanical action of polishing pumice on the surface of enamel. In essence, this process demineralizes the teeth for aesthetic purposes. In this study, novel prophylaxis paste formulations were developed with remineralizing agents and novel continuous phases in order to simultaneously repair the tooth while polishing off stains. In order to determine what effect these novel formulations had on the surface of enamel and composite, the surface roughness, gloss and scratch patterns were measured before and after treatment. These results were compared to Dentsply Nupro prophylaxis paste to determine if the effects on aesthetic properties were comparable to a leading existing prophylaxis paste. The results of this study suggest that remineralizing agents can be incorporated into prophylaxis paste formulations without significantly altering the surface roughness, gloss, or scratch patterns. Further, a novel carrier may be helpful in treating hypersensitivity by leaving a polymeric film on the surface of the tooth that can occlude dentinal tubules.