title: Clinical evaluation of two desensitizing treatments in southern Brazil: A 3-month follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of two treatments for dentin hypersensitivity in vivo during 90 days of follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 117 teeth (13 patients) that were divided into three groups: control with carbomer 940 gel (n = 32) (placebo treatment), 2% sodium fluoride gel (n = 31) and low-level infrared diode laser (n = 54). Prior to the desensitizing treatment, the dentin hypersensitivity status of each tooth was assessed by an evaporative stimulus; the patient's response was evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and by counting the Exposure Time to Air Blast (ETAB) with a dental air syringe. Re-evaluations of the treatments occurred after 5 min, 7, 15, 30 and 90 days. The statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test, Friedman test, one-way ANOVA, Tukey's test and Spearman's rank correlation (α = 5%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were observed among the low-level laser, 2% topical fluoride and carbomer 940 gel applications. When the methods of evaluation (VAS and ETAB) were compared, there was no difference among the groups with respect to the values for every period of evaluation (p < 0.001), verifying that the scores obtained with the VAS decreased at the same proportion as the remaining time of ETAB increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that both tested therapies were efficacious in controlling painful symptoms associated with dentin hypersensitivity over the entire 90-day follow-up period. The treatments were able to reduce the painful symptoms caused by dentin hypersensitivity, including placebo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry.
authors.forename: Rafael Guerra
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Lund
authors.forename: Adriana Fernandes Da
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Evandro
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piva
authors.forename: Wellington Luiz De Oliveira
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Da Rosa
authors.forename: Sani Silva
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Heckmann
authors.forename: Flávio Fernando
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Demarco
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D005782:Gels; D010919:Placebos; C006903:carbopol 940; D012969:Sodium Fluoride