Occluding dentin tubules with monetite paste in vitro.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to evaluate the occlusion of monetite paste on dentine tubule and provide a new potential method for treating dentine hypersensitivity. METHODS: Calcium oxide, strontium chloride, and polyethylene glycol phosphate were mixed in a certain proportion and ground in a planetary ball mill. The reaction was carried out by adjusting the pH to obtain monetite and hydroxyapatite paste. The morphological characteristics of the paste were observed through scanning electron microscope (SEM). The structure and composition were analyzed through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). The extracted third molar was selected to undergo demineralization to establish the in vitro study model of dentin hypersensitivity. The samples were randomly divided into four groups blank control group (treated with distilled water), casein peptide phosphate-amorphic calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) group, monetite paste group, and hydroxyapatite paste group. Each group was used to scrub the dentin surface with the corresponding materials for 7 days. The morphological characteristics of the dentin surface and section were observed through SEM, the microhardness of the dentin before and after mineralization was analyzed with a microhardness tester, and the composition of the deposits on the surface of the mineralized samples was examined through XRD. RESULTS: XRD and FTIR showed that the composition of the paste was mainly monetite, and the composition of hydroxyapatite paste was mainly composed of hydroxyapatite. SEM revealed that the size of the crystal particles of the synthesized paste was tens to hundreds of nanometers. Monetite and hydroxyapatite paste could produce a thicker mineralization layer on the dentin surface, and the mineralization of the dentin tubules of monetite was deeper than that of hydroxyapatite paste. The microhardness of the monetite paste group was significantly less than those of the hydroxyapatite paste groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Monetite paste could effectively block the exposed dentin tubules and be used for treating dentin hypersensitivity.