title: Clinical evaluation of a potassium nitrate dentifrice for the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity.
abstract: The effectiveness of a 5% potassium nitrate dentifrice as a daily home treatment for dentinal hypersensitivity was evaluated in a double-blind study in 36 Japanese subjects who complained of cold and/or tactile hypersensitivity. The subjects were divided into 2 groups, with 18 being given a 5% potassium nitrate dentifrice (treated group) and the other 18 a vehicle paste (control group). Both groups were instructed to brush their teeth 2 x a day. The hypersensitivity levels of the affected teeth were assessed by 2 stimuli, one tactile and the other cold air, and by the perception of pain. The results of all 3 assessment methods indicated that the potassium nitrate dentifrice significantly decreased the level of hypersensitivity at weeks 4, 8, and 12. In the treated group, a rapid decrease of positive scores for both the cold air stimulus and the subjective symptoms appeared from week 2. Although a significant decrease of the assessment score was also observed in the control group, the reduction rate of the score was much greater in the treated group by all 3 assessment methods at weeks 4, 8, and 12. Complete relief of subjective symptoms throughout the 12 weeks' examination was noted in 67% of the subjects in the treated group, but in only 6% in the control group. These results suggest the usefulness of a 5% potassium nitrate dentifrice in Japanese patients with dentinal hypersensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology and Endodontology, Tokushima University School of Dentistry, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shinohara
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kasahara
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wakano
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daigen
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Troullos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003802:Dentifrices / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009566:Nitrates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017680:Potassium Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011336:Probability; D013223:Statistics as Topic
chemical_list: D003802:Dentifrices; D009566:Nitrates; D017680:Potassium Compounds; C023844:potassium nitrate