The efficacy of three desensitizing agents used to treat dentin hypersensitivity.
BACKGROUND
In a single-center, double-masked, split-mouth-designed, clinical short-term trial, the authors assessed the clinical responses of teeth with dentin hypersensitivity (DH) after treating the teeth with one of three desensitizing agents across four weeks.


METHODS
The authors selected 131 teeth with DH in 11 participants. The authors assessed DH of the teeth by using tactile stimuli and air stimuli and had the participants record the level of sensitivity by means of a visual analog scale (VAS). The authors then treated the teeth with one of three desensitizing agents (Pain-Free [Parkell, Edgewood, N.Y.], BisBlock [Bisco, Schaumburg, Ill.], Seal & Protect [Dentsply DeTrey, Konstanz, Germany]) that they applied according to the manufacturers' instructions. The authors used a split-mouth-designed study in which the teeth in different quadrants of the participants' mouths received different desensitizing agents. The authors also conducted DH evaluations at 10 minutes after treatment and at one, two, three and four weeks. The authors analyzed data statistically by using Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests.


RESULTS
The results of the statistical analysis showed that all VAS scores at the posttreatment evaluation periods were reduced significantly compared with those at baseline (P<.05). More teeth were sensitive to air stimuli than to tactile stimuli. The mean VAS scores for DH in the mandibular teeth were significantly higher than for those in maxillary teeth immediately after treatment (for tactile stimuli) and two weeks after the first application (for air stimuli) (P<.05)


CONCLUSIONS
All three desensitizing agents were effective in relieving DH up to four weeks, independent of their application procedures. There was, however, a significant reduction in mean sensitivity scores of teeth that had been treated with Seal & Protect and Pain-Free compared with those of BisBlock at weeks two, three and four.


CONCLUSIONS
The study results should be considered with caution, as it is not clear how many of the pain relief effects were related to the natural desensitization of teeth over time.
Erdemir
Ugur
U
Department of Operative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. uerdemir@hotmail.com
Yildiz
Esra
E
Kilic
Imren
I
Yucel
Taner
T
Ozel
Sevda
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000388:Air; D057133:Dentin Desensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008437:Maxilla; D008875:Middle Aged; D010070:Oxalates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019815:Oxalic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D019279:Resin Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014110:Touch
C514542:BisBlock; D057133:Dentin Desensitizing Agents; D010070:Oxalates; C121034:Pain-Free; D019279:Resin Cements; C442646:Seal and Protect resin cement; D019815:Oxalic Acid