A practice-based randomised controlled trial of the efficacy of three interventions to reduce dentinal hypersensitivity

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of three different interventions (non-desensitising toothpaste, desensitising toothpaste and professionally applied dentine bonding agent) in reducing dentinal hypersensitivity over a 2-week, 3-month and 6-month-period in a dental practice setting.This was a randomised controlled, single-blind; parallel-group trial conducted in general dental practice by a single general dental practitioner. Seventy-five subjects were randomly allocated to three groups; non-desensitising toothpaste (NDT), desensitising toothpaste (DT) and professionally applied desensitising agent (DA). Dentinal hypersensitivity was measured using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) to record the response from a standardised short blast of air from a triple syringe. Dentinal hypersensitivity was recorded at baseline, two weeks, three months and six months for all groups.Dentinal hypersensitivity reduced significantly (p<0.0001) in both groups DT and DA, in addition the reduction in sensitivity was sustained and continued to improve over a 6-month-period. The greatest reduction in dentinal hypersensitivity was recorded in group DA.The results from this study suggest that application of dentine bonding agents, to teeth diagnosed with dentine hypersensitivity provides the greatest improvement in dentine hypersensitivity at 2 weeks and 6 months. This reduction in dentine hypersensitivity is greater than that achieved by the desensitising toothpaste tested and a non-desensitising toothpaste.