Efficacy of a 3% potassium nitrate desensitizing mouthwash in the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity.
BACKGROUND
Potassium nitrate has been used previously in a dentifrice or gel to alleviate dentinal hypersensitivity. The aim of this study was to compare a 3% potassium nitrate/0.2% sodium fluoride mouthwash with a 0.2% sodium fluoride control mouthwash in a 6-week double-blind study.


METHODS
Fifty subjects were evaluated using 2 tactile methods and cold air sensitivity (dental air syringe), along with subjective perception of pain (0 to 10 scale) at baseline and at 2 and 6 weeks.


RESULTS
There was a general decrease in dentinal hypersensitivity levels in both groups over the 6-week study period as demonstrated by all 4 methods of assessment. There was also a statistically significant difference in decrease in sensitivity between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that a 3% potassium nitrate/0.2% sodium fluoride mouthwash appears to have therapeutic potential to alleviate dentinal hypersensitivity.
Pereira
R
R
Department of Periodontics, SDM College of Dental Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka, India.
Chava
V K
VK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D017680:Potassium Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009067:Mouthwashes; D009566:Nitrates; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D012969:Sodium Fluoride; C023844:potassium nitrate