Ortek Therapeutics announces new dental cream for sensitive teeth
Ortek Therapeutics Inc., a pharmaceutical company specializing in dental products, has announced that dentists can now sell their patients a new, prescription dental cream for sensitive teeth. New DenClude Desensitizing Cream incorporates the same breakthrough technology used in Ortek's ProClude, a more powerful version, which is applied in-office by dental professionals.
Available only through dental offices, DenClude is a unique home treatment for the estimated 40 million Americans who suffer from sensitive teeth, a painful condition triggered by cold, sweet or acidic foods or beverages, breathing cold air, and touch by a metal object.
"Now, for the first time, dentists can provide a take-home formulation of the same technology used in the ProClude prophy paste they use in their offices. People who have sensitive teeth can continue protecting their teeth and improving their quality of life," said Mitchell Goldberg, President of Ortek. "DenClude and ProClude provide a one-two punch for office and home."
Tooth sensitivity can be increased by receding gums, which are caused by overly aggressive brushing, periodontal disease, and certain dental procedures including scaling and surgery. Tooth whitening and excessive use of anti-tarter toothpastes may also increase sensitivity. If left untreated, sensitive teeth can sometimes lead to serious dental problems, including pulp damage and tooth loss.
Applied twice daily with a toothbrush, DenClude seals and repairs open dentinal tubules, preventing the agonizing jabs of pain associated with sensitive teeth. Over-the-counter desensitizing toothpastes attempt to block the transmission of pain inside the tooth, without sealing the tubules.
DenClude contains SensiStat, which was developed, clinically tested and patented by researchers at the School of Dental Medicine, Department of Oral Biology and Pathology, State University of New York at Stony Brook.
SensiStat was made available earlier in ProClude, the first commercially available desensitizing prophy paste, now used by thousands of dental professionals as part of routine, in-office, dental cleaning procedures. ProClude and DenClude were proven highly efficacious in separate clinical trials, and they should provide patients with immediate and sustained relief of sensitive teeth. The suggested
In a 12-week, 88-patient, double-blind clinical trial, DenClude reduced the pain of sensitive teeth by up to 60% when applied twice daily with a toothbrush. The study examined 826 teeth. Each subject in the trial had to have at least one tooth sensitive to either scratching with a dental explorer or to a one-second air blast or both. Sensitivity was determined at the initial screening visit and at 3, 8, and 12 weeks.
SensiStat is based on over 30 years of research in saliva chemistry and mimics saliva's repair and protective properties. It is comprised of arginine, a common amino acid found in saliva, along with bicarbonate and calcium carbonate. Together they form a natural "super saliva" complex that's highly effective in immediately plugging and sealing microscopic fluid-filled pores or tubules of the dentin. The dentin is the portion of the tooth under the enamel that surrounds the nerve or pulp. The sensitive tooth process starts when gums recede thereby exposing the dentin to the mouth environment. When the exposed dentin comes in contact with cold, sweet or acidic foods or drinks, the fluid in the dentinal tubules can move and irritate nerve endings, causing acute pain.
Ortek Therapeutics, www.ortekinc.com, is a fully integrated company that develops and commercializes proprietary products for the prevention and early diagnosis of dental disorders. The company is developing new therapies for the prevention and treatment of tooth decay, drug-resistant infections and cancer. All technology is exclusively licensed from the Research Foundation of the State University of New York.
DenClude, ProClude and SensiStat are registered trademarks of Ortek.
