Method of treating periodontitis and of reducing dentinal sensitivity

Abstract

An improved method of treating periodontitis includes the steps of: creating a formulation containing a lanthanide-containing protease inhibitor; and applying the formulation to a periodontal area. The lanthanide may be cerium chloride, samarium chloride, lutetium chloride, cerium chloride heptahydrate, lutetium chloride hexahydrate, samarium chloride hexahydrate, gadolinium, gadolinium nitrate, gadolinium chloride, gadolinium chloride hexahydrate and gadolinium nitrate hexahydrate. The invention also provides an improved method of reducing dentinal sensitivity, including the steps of: creating a formulation containing at least one of gadolinium and a gadolinium-containing compound; and applying the formulation to a sensitive dentinal area. The formulation may be a paste, a solution or a powder.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plot of absorbance (ordinate) vs. concentration of protease inhibitor (abscissa), showing the effect of various lanthanides on cell culture media-precipitated proteins.

FIG. 2 is a plot of absorbance (ordinate) vs. concentration of protease inhibitor (abscissa), showing the effect of various lanthanides on cell surface-extracted proteins.

FIG. 3 are two stains showing the effect of gadolinium on cell culture media proteins, with gelatin zymography.

FIG. 4 are two stains showing the effect of gadolinium on cell surface-extracted proteins, with gelatin zymography.

FIG. 5 is an SEM image of a dentine surface after application of gadolinium nitrate dissolved in water.

FIG. 6 is an SEM of the dentinal tubule of the dentinal slice shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a backscattered image of the SEM shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an SEM image of the dentinal tubule after application of SuperSeal (potassium oxalate).

FIG. 9 is an SEM image of the dentinal tubule after application of gadolinium dissolved in water and sulfasalicyclic acid.

FIG. 10 is a back scattered image of the dentinal tubule shown in FIG. 9, with the gadolinium compound appearing as bright areas.

FIG. 11 is an SEM image of the dentine surface after application of gadolinium dissolved in sulfasalicyclic acid and alcohol.

FIG. 12 is an SEM of the dentinal tubule of the dentinal slice shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a back scattered image of the dentinal tubule shown in FIG. 12, with the gadolinium compound appearing as bright areas.

Claims

1. The method of treating periodontitis, comprising the steps of: creating a formulation containing a protease inhibitor; andapplying said formulation to a periodontal area.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said formulation is one of a solution, a paste and a powder.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said protease inhibitor contains at least one lanthanide.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said lanthanide is selected from the group consisting of cerium chloride, samarium chloride, lutetium chloride, cerium chloride heptahydrate, lutetium chloride hexahydrate, samarium chloride hexahydrate, gadolinium and a gadolinium-containing compound.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4 wherein said compound is selected from the group consisting of gadolinium nitrate, gadolinium chloride, gadolinium chloride hexahydrate and gadolinium nitrate hexahydrate.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said protease inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of cerium chloride, samarium chloride, lutetium chloride, cerium chloride heptahydrate, lutetium chloride hexahydrate, samarium chloride hexahydrate, gadolinium nitrate, gadolinium chloride, gadolinium chloride hexahydrate and gadolinium nitrate hexahydrate.

7. The method of reducing dentinal sensitivity, comprising the steps of: creating a formulation containing at least one of gadolinium and a gadolinium-containing compound; andapplying said formulation to a sensitive dentinal area.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said formulation is one of a solution, a paste and a powder.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said formulation contains gadolinium nitrate.

10. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein the pH of said formulation is about 4.3.

11. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said formulation is a solution that contains at least one of water, sulfasalicyclic acid, sodium lauryl sulfate and alcohol.

12. The method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said solution contains sulfasalicyclic acid and water.

13. The method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said solution contains sulfasalicyclic acid and alcohol.

14. The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the concentration of gadolinium or the gadolinium-containing compound is from about 1.5% to about 6%.