How is BioMin® different from Pro-Argin
Dentine hypersensitivity affects many dental patients, so offering advice for effective at-home management is essential. Get informed about the options.
Most clinicians consider dentine hypersensitivity to be a common problem, with research suggesting that 25-30% of adults report experiencing it.[i] It has a number of causes, with tooth wear, age, and previous dental treatment all having the potential to open exposed dentine tubules.[ii]
What are the options for at home management?
Because the condition is extremely prevalent, it is important that patients have access to options for at-home management. As such, over-the-counter desensitisers are available in the form of toothpaste which contain potassium, fluoride, arginine, strontium, and bioactive glass in a variety of combinations. For some patients, a desensitising toothpaste is sufficient to manage sensitivity, by occluding the dentinal tubules and removing the daily hinderance of sensitivity.
With so many options available to patients, it’s important for professionals to understand which active ingredients offer the best results, in order to provide patients with tailored advice.
Calcium and arginine
One type of over-the-counter toothpaste uses calcium and arginine (found naturally in saliva) as its key components. When used, it is designed to occlude the dentinal tubules and minimise painful symptoms. Research shows that it is able to successfully reduce dentine hypersensitivity one minute after it is applied.[iii]
BioMin® F
The same clinical trial[iv] found that BioMin® F is the best long-term treatment option for managing dentine hypersensitivity, outperforming other formulas. BioMin® F is formulated with bioactive glass (fluoro-calcium phospho-silicate), which enables fluorapatite crystals to be deposited on the surfaces of the teeth, occluding the dentinal tubules.
When compared to hydroxyapatite, fluorapatite crystals are less susceptible to acid erosion, making this a more effective solution for protecting the teeth and minimising sensitivity. Further to this, BioMin® F facilitates the slow release of fluoride over a sustained period of 12 hours, helping to maintain stable levels of fluorapatite crystals in the saliva.[v]
As a result, the clinical trial found that, when subjected to air blasts and water jet stimulation, pain scores significantly decreased when BioMin® F was used in comparison to calcium and arginine after two, four, and six weeks.[vi]
Recommendations for effective care
When recommending solutions for minimising sensitivity to patients, it is valuable to understand the benefits of the active ingredients in the products they use every day. For the long-term management of dentine hypersensitivity, BioMin® F is the most effective over-the-counter solution.[vii] Ensure that your patients employ the best oral hygiene solutions for their long-term dental health.