Consultants’ Comments

• “Patients think it is a smooth paste.”
• “It cleans and polishes well.”
• “Does not rinse off completely.”
• “I found the paste somewhat hard to load into the cup on the prophy angle.”
• “We found it splatters quite a bit.”

Description

NUPRO® NUSolutions™ is a prophylaxis paste containing fluoride (1.23% F ion) and NovaMin, a calcium sodium phosphosilicate. NUPRO NUSolutions is recommended for use as a dentin desensitization agent due to phosphate and calcium ion deposition during direct local application. The instructions state that this paste is not for use as a polish for restorations. NUPRO NUSolutions is packaged in unit-dose plastic cups, color-coded for each of the four flavors: spearmint, peppermint, bubblegum and citrus mint. It contains no dyes and is available in both a fine “Polish” grit and a coarser “Stain Removal” grit, which is marked on the cups. Dentists and hygienists from 21 offices used NUPRO NUSolutions for 751 polish and 382 stain removal procedures. This prophy paste received an 83% clinical rating.

Product Features

NUPRO NUSolutions provided good polishing and stain removal during prophy procedures. The pastes were rated very smooth by hygienists, and patients felt little grittiness. Some clinicians found that complete rinsing of residue from the mouth was more time consuming than with their usual product; however, the manufacturer recommends only a normal rinse time to rinse away the grit but to avoid washing away the Hydroxy Carbonate Apatite (HCA) layer being formed as the NovaMin reacts with the moisture in the mouth. Often the HCA formation left a white residue at cervical and interproximal areas of the teeth. This residue was a positive feature in that it is evidence of the formation of the Hydroxy Carbonate Apatite layer. This layer when formed may also stick to soft tissues as well as hard tissue. Clinicians found that the residue detracted from the clean appearance that patients expect following a prophy and made subsequent examination of tooth surfaces difficult. Patients were very positive about the flavors and the scents. Seventy-two percent of consultants rated NUPRO NUSolutions the same as or better than their current polishing pastes, 59% would switch to it and 59% would recommend it to colleagues.