0136 Clinical Effectiveness of a CPP-ACP Crème for Tooth Hypersensitivity Treatment

A. POITEVIN1 , M. PEUMANS1 , J. DE MUNCK1 , M. BRAEM2 , and B. VAN MEERBEEK1 , 1 August 2004Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, 2 University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium

Tooth hypersensitivity is a widespread oral discomfort that remains difficult to treat.

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a newly developed tooth-coating crème (GC Tooth Mousse), containing Casein PhosphoPeptide - Amorphous Calcium Phosphate (CPP-ACP) for the treatment of tooth hypersensitivity.

Methods: 11 private practitioners treated 61 patients (37 female, 24 male, 19-67 yr age range) for tooth hypersensitivity using GC Tooth Mousse. Medical and dental history, oral hygiene and dietary habits were recorded before treatment. At baseline, sensitivity of the test teeth was scored by the dentist on a 0-10 visual analogue scale (VAS) after air-blast (A), instrumentation with a probe (P) and an ultrasonic scaler (U). The patient was instructed to apply GC Tooth Mousse during 21 days (brush teeth at evening, apply GC Tooth Mousse in tray or with swab, leave for 3 min, spread remaining crème throughout the mouth for 1-2 min, do not eat or drink for 30 min). Sensitivity of the test teeth was daily evaluated by the patient using VAS. After 3 weeks, patients sensitivity was re-scored by the dentist (A, P, and U).

Results: Before treatment, the test teeth showed a VAS sensitivity of 6.0±2.7 (A), 3.3±2.9 (P) and 5.9±2.9 (U). A significant reduction (Wilcoxon signed rank statistics, p<0.0001) in tooth sensitivity was noticed by the dentist after 21 days to 3.2±2.8 (A), 2.0±2.4 (P) and 4.1±3.3 (U). The change in sensitivity was more apparent after the air stimulus than the tactile stimuli. Regarding the daily evaluation of tooth sensitivity by the patient, the sensitivity also decreased from day 1 (5.6±2.4) to day 21 (2.3±2.3). Half of the patients reported a general reduction in sensitivity (44%) and wanted to repeat the treatment if sensitivity re-occurred (43%).

Conclusion: Out of this clinical study, GC Tooth Mousse appears to be effective in reducing tooth hypersensitivity.