ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Tooth whitening products enjoy substantial popularity. However, tooth hypersensitivity is invariably an undesirable consequence. Desensitizing toothpastes may be used for alleviating the symptoms. NovaMin, as an active ingredient in many dentifrices, has been shown to deliver significant therapeutic desensitising benefits. AIM: To study the effect of NovaMin desensitising toothpaste mixed with 15% carbamide peroxide on tooth bleaching and tubule occlusion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was carried out in vitro, on extracted premolars which were bleached, using the above mentioned mixture and shade change was evaluated. They were then sectioned to be observed under a scanning Electron Microscope. The number of completely and partially blocked tubules as well as open tubules were counted for each specimen. Statistical analysis for shade change was done by using paired t-test. Mean and Standard deviation were calculated for the tubule counts and they were analyzed statistically. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated that the addition of NovaMin to 15% Carbamide peroxide occluded the dentinal tubules and that it did not affect the bleaching procedure. They also emphasized its clinical relevance in a dual advantage of desensitizing and bleaching with a single paste system.