This spring, GlaxoSmithKline finally (and quietly) began selling its renowned Sensodyne Repair & Protect toothpaste in the United States. The product was reported to be a godsend to people whose teeth have become sensitive to heat and cold. Typically, sensitivity increases with age - some of the tooth enamel wears off over the years, exposing the dentinal tubules that connect with the tooth nerves. The solution, in Repair & Protect toothpaste that GSK has sold outside the US for years, was a form of the 45S5 glass invented by ACerS Distinguished Life Member, Larry Hench. The 45S5 glass particles in Repair & Protect trigger an iconic reaction. When the glass particles contact saliva and water, the glass releases calcium and phosphate ions to form a calcium phosphate layer. The body then converts this to hydroxyapatite, which creates a physical barrier over the tubules much like the original enamel. Unfortunately, the formula sold in the USA does not contain Bioglass (sold under the trade name NovaMin). The omission of this key ingredient typically is blamed on the need to obtain approval from the US FDA. GKS is not talking - having twice refused an interview - but did send an email from Deborah Bolding, media contact for North America consumer products, who said: "Sensodyne Repair & Protect is a new product here in the USA and does not contain NovaMin," she wrote. "The FDA approved the formulation. We work with regulatory authorities in each market on formulations for the product to be marketed and sold in that specific market. There are variances by market depending on the local regulatory body and other factors." The bottom line is, if you live in the USA and want to buy the "real" Repair & Protect, you are going to have to go outside the country to buy it.
