Comparison of clinical efficacy of a dentifrice containing calcium sodium phosphosilicate to a dentifrice containing potassium nitrate and to a placebo on dentinal hypersensitivity: a randomized clinical trial.
BACKGROUND
A considerable number of agents are effective in the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity. This 6-week randomized clinical trial compares a dentifrice containing calcium sodium phosphosilicate to potassium nitrate and to a placebo.


METHODS
A total of 110 subjects (58 males and 52 females; aged 20 to 60 years) were entered into the study. The volunteers selected at baseline had a history of dentin hypersensitivity caused by gingival recession or cervical erosion. Patients were required to have at least two teeth with a visual analog scale score of > or =4 to be included in the study. After sensitivity scores for controlled air stimulus (evaporative stimulus) and cold water (thermal stimulus) at baseline were recorded, subjects were given toothpastes randomly, and sensitivity scores were measured again at 2- and 6-week follow-ups.


RESULTS
All three groups showed reduction in sensitivity scores at 2 weeks and 6 weeks for air stimulus and cold water. The calcium sodium phosphosilicate group, however, was found to be significantly better in reducing the visual analog scale score compared to the potassium nitrate group and the placebo group at any time point for both measures of sensitivity.


CONCLUSIONS
Under the conditions of a clinical trial, the calcium sodium phosphosilicate group showed comparable reduction in the symptoms of dentin hypersensitivity.
Pradeep
A R
AR
Department of Periodontics, Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bangalore, Karnataka, India. periodontics_gdc@rediffmail.com
Sharma
Anuj
A
D000328:Adult; D000388:Air; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003802:Dentifrices / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D057133:Dentin Desensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000150:complications; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009566:Nitrates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010919:Placebos; D017680:Potassium Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017640:Silicates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014077:Tooth Erosion / Q000150:complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014867:Water; D055815:Young Adult
D017610:Calcium Compounds; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D003802:Dentifrices; D057133:Dentin Desensitizing Agents; D009566:Nitrates; C510984:NovaMin; D010919:Placebos; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D017640:Silicates; D014867:Water; C076375:rhenanite; C005691:sodium silicate; C023844:potassium nitrate; C031293:calcium silicate