Effect of fluoride toothpaste with nano-sized trimetaphosphate on enamel demineralization: An in vitro study.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effect of toothpastes containing 1100ppm F associated or not with micrometric or nano-sized sodium trimetaphosphate (TMP) on enamel demineralization in vitro, using a pH cycling model. DESIGN: Bovine enamel blocks (4mmx4mm, n=96) were randomly allocated into eight groups (n=12), according to the test toothpastes: Placebo (without fluoride or TMP); 1100ppm F (1100F); 1100F plus micrometric TMP at concentrations of 1%, 3% or 6%; and 1100F plus nanosized TMP at 1%, 3% or 6%. Blocks were treated 2x/day with slurries of toothpastes and submitted to a pH cycling regimen for five days. Next, final surface hardness (SHf), integrated hardness loss (IHL), differential profile of integrated hardness loss (DeltaIHL) and enamel fluoride (F) concentrations were determined. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Student-Newman-Keuls' test (p<0.05). RESULTS: The use of 1100F/3%TMPnano led to SHf 30% higher (p<0.001) and IHL approximately 80% lower (p<0.001) when compared to 1100F. This toothpaste also resulted in approximately 64% reduction of mineral loss (DeltaIHL) when compared to 1100F. Moreover, the addition of nano-sized TMP promoted increases in enamel F uptake of 90%, 160% and 100%, respectively for the concentrations of 1%, 3% and 6%, when compared to 1100F (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The addition of nano-sized TMP at 3% to a conventional toothpaste significantly decreased enamel demineralization when compared to its counterparts without TMP or supplemented with micrometric TMP.