In-office treatment for dentin hypersensitivity: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
Dentin hypersensitivity, caused by the exposure and patency of dentinal tubules, can affect patients' quality of life. The aim of this study was to undertake a systematic review and a network meta-analysis, comparing the effectiveness in resolving dentin hypersensitivity among different in-office desensitizing treatments.


METHODS
A literature search was performed with electronic databases and by hand until December 2011. The included trials were divided into six treatment groups as placebo, physical occlusion, chemical occlusion, nerve desensitization, laser therapy and combined treatments. The treatment effects between groups were estimated with standardized mean differences by using a Bayesian network meta-analysis.


RESULTS
Forty studies were included. The standardized mean difference between placebo and physical occlusion was -2.57 [95% credible interval (CI): -4.24 to -0.94]; placebo versus chemical occlusion was -2.33 (95% CI: -3.65 to -1.04); placebo versus nerve desensitization was -1.72 (95% CI: -4.00 to 0.52); placebo versus laser therapy was -2.81 (95% CI: -4.41 to -1.24); placebo versus combined treatment was -3.47 (95% CI: -5.99 to -0.96). The comparisons of the five active treatments showed no significant differences.


CONCLUSIONS
The results from network meta-analysis showed that most active treatment options had significantly better treatment outcome than placebo.
Department of Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University and National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Po-Yen
PY
Lin
Ya-Wen
YW
Cheng
Chia-Yi
CY
Chu
Kuo-Liong
KL
Chien
Chun-Pin
CP
Lin
Yu-Kang
YK
Tu
D057133:Dentin Desensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003806:Dentin Permeability / Q000187:drug effects*; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
D057133:Dentin Desensitizing Agents