Dental Anti-Hypersensitivity Composition and Method

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for calcifying dental tissue, e.g., preventing or treating dental hypersensitivity. An oral composition of arginine bicarbonate and calcium carbonate promotes the formation of dentinal tubule plugs aided by combining calcium and phosphate in the fluid. In a specific example, an arginine bicarbonate/calcium carbonate mixture blocked dentinal tubules in a model system. In addition to treating dentinal sensitivity, the compositions and methods of the invention provide for calcifying exposed tooth pulp, calcifying the base or all of a pit or fissure in a tooth, and treating a carious lesion.

1 .- 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . A method of calcifying an exposed tooth pulp, which method comprises administering to an exposed tooth pulp, an oral composition comprising a guanidinium alkaline salt or free base, a calcium salt which is poorly soluble in water, and an orally acceptable carrier, wherein a pH of the composition ranges from about 7.5 to about 9.5. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the guanidinium is arginine. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the arginine salt is selected from the group consisting of arginine bicarbonate, arginine hydroxide, arginine carbonate, arginine phosphate, and arginine organic phosphate. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the solubility of the calcium salt is between about 0.1 and about 100 mg in 100 ml of water near and about room temperature and near and above pH of about 5. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the calcium salt is selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, monocalcium phosphate, dicalcium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate, calcium fluoride, calcium monofluorophosphate, sodium calcium pyrophosphate, calcium laurate, calcium palmitate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising a protein denaturing agent. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the pH of the composition is greater than 9.0. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the pH of the composition ranges from about 9.0 to about 9.5. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the pH of the composition ranges from 9.0 to 9.5. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the guanidinium alkaline salt or free base is arginine bicarbonate present in an amount of from about 1 to about 25%, and the calcium salt is calcium carbonate, present in an amount of from about 5 to about 50%. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein said calcium carbonate is provided as particles having a size of from about 2 to 5 μm. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the composition further comprises between about 10 and 1500 parts per million of fluoride. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the composition is a dentrifice. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the dentrifice further comprises an abrasive. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the abrasive is selected from the group consisting of resins, silica, insoluble alkali metal metaphosphates and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the dentrifice further comprises a binder. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the binder is selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethylcellulose, xanthan gum, sodium carboxymethylcellulose and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the dentrifice further comprises a foaming agent. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the foaming agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium coconut monoglyceride sulfonate, sodium-N-methyl-N-palmitoyl taurine and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the dentrifice further comprises a flavoring agent.