It seems that every month the next "toothpaste replacement" is splashed across popular media, fades from the spotlight, and then is replaced by yet another. The latest is Livionex, which received attention recently when Sir James Dyson, famed inventor and vacuum designer, featured it on a list of his favorite inventions.

The gel, which proudly advertises itself as containing no abrasives, foam, fluoride or antibiotics, uses an "activated EDTA" formula to break up biofilms and kill bacteria. EDTA is a chelating agent, binding to metal ions and sequestering them. On its own, it is a poor toothpaste since it is unable to penetrate the negatively-charged plaque biofilm. The makers of Livionex claim to have overcome this repulsion so that the EDTA molecules can penetrate the biofilm and sequester calcium ions, causing the bacteria to no longer be able to adhere to the teeth.

While a clever idea in theory, experts highlight a number of issues that require resolution before Livionex becomes the fabled "toothpaste replacement." First, none of the studies actually investigated the impact on erosion or caries risk, only examining biofilm. Second, it's much more expensive than normal toothpaste; and third, each study had a small sample size among a homogenous population.

Livionex may be an interesting idea for bringing the biofilm-breaking action of the prophy handpiece into the home, but its true impact is not yet known, and the expense-to-benefit relationship is as of yet unclear.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this, or any case study post in Incisor should never be considered a proper replacement for necessary training and/or education regarding adult oral conscious sedation. Regulations regarding sedation vary by state. This is an educational and informational piece. DOCS Education accepts no liability whatsoever for any damages resulting from any direct or indirect recipient's use of or failure to use any of the information contained herein. DOCS Education would be happy to answer any questions or concerns mailed to us at 106 Lenora Street, Seattle, WA 98121. Please print a copy of this posting and include it with your question or request.

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The information contained in this, or any case study post in Incisor, should never be considered a proper replacement for necessary training and/or education regarding adult oral conscious sedation. Regulations regarding sedation vary by state. This is an educational and informational piece. DOCS Education accepts no liability whatsoever for any damages resulting from any direct or indirect recipient's use of or failure to use any of the information contained herein. DOCS Education would be happy to answer any questions or concerns mailed to us at 3250 Airport Way S, Suite 701 | Seattle, WA 98134. Please print a copy of this posting and include it with your question or request.
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