title: The effectiveness of current dentin desensitizing agents used to treat dental hypersensitivity: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dentin desensitizing agents are used in the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity, which is defined as a painful response in the exposed dentin to stimuli that are thermal, evaporative, tactile, osmotic, or chemical. A systematic review was conducted to analyze the clinical effectiveness of current desensitizer with at least 3 months of follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight electronic databases were searched: MedLine (PubMed), Embase, Lilacs, Ibecs, Web of Science, Scopus, Scielo, and The Cochrane Library. Only those clinical trials published from 2000 to 2012 were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 3,029 relevant records were identified. After title and abstract examination, 2,645 articles were excluded. A data extraction form was designed and completed by reviewers from the selected studies for a retrospective comparison. From the 99 studies retrieved for detailed review, only 17 had an evaluation time of at least 3-months follow-up and fulfilled the selection criteria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cervitec Plus, SE Bond & Protect Liner F, laser, and iontophoresis have shown satisfactory posttreatment results between 3 and 6 months. However, additional clinical trials are warranted to better compare the different types of treatments and their effectiveness in the longer term.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wellington Luiz de Oliveira
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: da Rosa
authors.forename: Rafael Guerra
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Lund
authors.forename: Evandro
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piva
authors.forename: Adriana Fernandes
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: da Silva
mesh_terms: D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D057133:Dentin Desensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D019234:Dentinal Fluid / Q000502:physiology*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D006874:Hydrostatic Pressure; D007478:Iontophoresis; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019279:Resin Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013943:Thymol / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D057133:Dentin Desensitizing Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D008689:Methacrylates; C409388:Protect Liner F; D019279:Resin Cements; C096371:Sebond; C079161:chlorhexidine, thymol drug combination; D013943:Thymol; D002710:Chlorhexidine