Purpose: To review the scientific evidence for the efficacy of stabilized stannous fluoride (SnF₂) dentifrice in relation to dental caries, dental erosion and dentin hypersensitivity.
Methods: Medline OVID, Embase.com, and the Cochrane Library were searched until January 2018. Two researchers independently selected studies according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, data were extracted, the risk of bias in eligible studies was assessed and a meta-analysis was performed wherever feasible.
Results: Three studies on dental caries, eight studies on dental erosion and 11 on dentin hypersensitivity were included. Risk of bias was judged as high for most of the caries and erosion studies and low or medium for the hypersensitivity studies. A similar or slightly higher anti-caries activity compared with non-stannous fluoride dentifrices was observed. Stannous fluoride showed a greater anti-erosive potential in seven of the eight studies. A mean difference score in favor of stannous fluoride dentifrices compared with controls was found in a meta-analysis including six 8-week hypersensitivity studies.
Clinical significance: The use of stabilized stannous fluoride dentifrices to relieve dentin hypersensitivity and to prevent the initiation of dental erosion speaks in favor of this treatment strategy.
Copyright©American Journal of Dentistry.