Dentine sensitivity: past, present and future.
OBJECTIVE
This review defines dentine sensitivity (DS), its prevalence, its aetiology, the mechanism(s) responsible for DS, its diagnosis and its treatment. The review then examines the modes of action of various treatments for DS including potassium salts, strontium salts, bioglasses, arginine/calcium carbonate and professional treatments such as adhesives and oxalates. The methods used to evaluate the various treatment modalities are discussed, including laboratory studies and randomised controlled clinical trials.


METHODS
A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Ovid Medline and Cochrane reviews for information on DS and its treatments, as well as laboratory and clinical studies used to evaluate the efficacy of various DS treatments. With regard to efficacy of treatments for DS only reports of clinical studies that were randomised, controlled and blinded were reviewed. The authors offer new insights into the shortcomings of the recent systematic review of the use of oxalates for DS.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors introduce the concept of a novel desensitising mouthrinse containing 1.4% potassium oxalate: Listerine® Advanced Defence Sensitive mouthrinse. Readers of this supplement issue of the Journal of Dentistry are invited to review the significance of managing the clinical problem of DS. They are also invited to assess data from laboratory and randomised controlled clinical studies in order to understand the advantages offered by regular use of 1.4% potassium oxalate-containing mouthrinse, Listerine Advanced Defence Sensitive, in particular its resistance to daily erosive and/or abrasive challenges.
Oral Care Scientific and Professional Affairs, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Services EAME Ltd, Foundation Park, Maidenhead, UK.
Maria
M
Mantzourani
Deepak
D
Sharma
D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000473:pathology; D003804:Dentin / Q000473:pathology; D057133:Dentin Desensitizing Agents / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D019815:Oxalic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D057085:Tooth Wear / Q000150:complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D057133:Dentin Desensitizing Agents; D019815:Oxalic Acid
Dentine hypersensitivity; Dentine sensitivity; Mouthrinse; Nerve stabilisation; Potassium oxalate; Tooth sensitivity; Tubule occlusion