Erosion protection efficacy of a 0.454% stannous fluoride dentifrice versus an arginine-containing dentifrice

Objectives: To assess the anti-erosion effects of a 0.454% stannous fluoride dentifrice versus a marketed dentifrice in an in situ clinical study. Methods: This was a double-blind, randomized and controlled, two-treatment, four-period crossover clinical study involving healthy adults. Each study period was 10 days. Subjects were randomized to one of two dentifrice products each period: an experimental 0.454% stannous fluoride dentifrice (1100ppm fluoride) or a marketed 1.5% arginine-containing dentifrice (Colgate® Maximum Cavity Protection, 1450ppm fluoride). Subjects wore an intra-oral appliance fitted with 2 polished human enamel samples for 6 hours per day, swishing with the assigned dentifrice slurry twice a day in addition to sipping and swishing with 250ml of orange juice for 10 minutes (in increments of 25ml each minute) four times each day. Contact profilometry was used to measure surface changes of tooth enamel over the course of the study. Two measurements for each sample were taken at baseline and day 10. Results: Thirty-five subjects were randomized to treatment and 31 completed the study (mean age = 40 years). At day 10, enamel loss means were 0.128 µm for the stannous fluoride dentifrice and 1.377 µm for the arginine-containing dentifrice, respectively (p