Clinical evaluation of lasers and sodium fluoride gel in the treatment of dentine hypersensitivity.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of CO(2) and Er:YAG lasers alone and in combination with topical sodium fluoride (NaF) in the management of dentine hypersensitivity.


METHODS
A group of 50 patients presenting with a total of 420 hypersensitive teeth were randomly allocated into five groups. Group 1 was treated with 2% NaF, groups 2 and 3 were lased by a CO(2) (1 W, continuous wave mode, for 10 sec) or Er:YAG (30 Hz, 60 mJ for 10 sec, without water/air spray) laser, and groups 4 and 5 received NaF plus the CO(2) and the Er:YAG laser, respectively. The scanning speed of the laser was 0.8 mm/sec. The degree of thermal sensitivity was determined with an evaporative stimulus consisting of a 1-sec air blast at a distance of 2 mm from each site tested. Quantification of the degree of discomfort was determined according to a four-point pain scale before treatment and 1 wk, 1 mo, and 6 mo after treatment.


RESULTS
All treatment forms resulted in significant improvement of discomfort. At 1 wk, 1 mo, and 6 mo, cold air blast scores were significantly reduced compared to baseline scores, except for the NaF group. In the NaF group, there was a statistically significant increase in mean degree of discomfort at 6 mo compared with 1 wk (p +/- 0.01) and 1 mo (p +/- 0.001). Comparison of the other treatment regimens revealed that cold air blast scores were significantly lower for the other four treatments than for NaF gel alone (p +/- 0.001). No superiority was found for desensitization among the CO(2), Er:YAG, CO(2) + NaF, and Er:YAG + NaF groups.


CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that both the CO(2) and Er:YAG lasers have promising potential for the treatment of dentine hypersensitivity. Lasers in combination with NaF gel appear to show better efficacy compared to either treatment modality alone.
Ipci
Sebnem Dirikan
SD
Department of Periodontology, Yeditepe University Dental Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey. sebnemdirikan@hotmail.com
Cakar
Gokser
G
Kuru
Bahar
B
Yilmaz
Selcuk
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005460:Fluorides, Topical / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000008:administration & dosage
D005460:Fluorides, Topical; D005782:Gels; D012969:Sodium Fluoride