Dentine hypersensitivity.
Dentine hypersensitivity is a common oral complaint, affecting the teeth of many individuals. The aetiology is multifactorial; however, over recent years the role of erosion has become more and more important. For dentine hypersensitivity to occur, the lesion must first be localised on the tooth surface and then initiated to exposed dentine tubules which are patent to the pulp. The short, sharp pain symptoms are thought to be derived from the hydrodynamic theory of pain. This episodic pain condition is likely to become a more frequent dental complaint in the future due to the increase in longevity of the dentition and the rise in tooth wear. However, conclusive evidence of successful treatment regimens still eludes us despite a multitude of products available for treatment. In explanation, pain studies are notoriously difficult to conduct due to the subjective nature of pain and the complexity of pain assessment. The basic principles of treatment are altering fluid flow in the dentinal tubules with tubule occlusion or modifying or blocking pulpal nerve response, chemically with agents like potassium or physically.
West
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Applied Clinical Research Group, Dental School, Bristol, UK.