Comparative efficacy of a herbal and a non-herbal dentifrice on dentinal hypersensitivity: a randomized, controlled clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
Dentinal hypersensitivity (DH) is a common painful condition of the teeth of adults. The present study was conducted to assess and compare the efficacy of a commercially-available novel herbal dentifrice with a non-herbal potassium nitrate in the reduction of DH.


METHODS
A total of 145 individuals (73 males and 72 females; aged 25-60 years) were divided into three groups randomly: (a) group 1: a placebo dentifrice; (b) group 2: a commercially-available herbal dentifrice; and (c) group 3: 5% non-herbal potassium nitrate. The sensitivity scores for controlled air stimulus and cold water were recorded at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks.


RESULTS
Both groups 2 and 3 were found to be significantly better, as compared to the placebo group at the end of 6 and 12 weeks in the reduction of DH. Group 2 also showed comparable results in the reduction of DH when compared to group 3.


CONCLUSIONS
The herbal dentifrice showed comparable results to the non-herbal dentifrice and can be recommended for the treatment of DH.
Department of Periodontics, Vydehi Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Bangalore, India.
Minal
M
Kumari
Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bangalore, India.
Savitha B
SB
Naik
Department of Periodontics, Dr. D. Y. Patil Dental College and Hospital, D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pimpri, Pune, India.
Santosh S
SS
Martande
Department of Periodontics, Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bangalore, India.
Avani R
AR
Pradeep
Department of Opthalmology, Grant Medical College and JJ Group of Hospitals, Mumbai, India.
Priyanka
P
Singh
D000328:Adult; D003802:Dentifrices / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009566:Nitrates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017680:Potassium Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014867:Water
D003802:Dentifrices; D009566:Nitrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D014867:Water; C023844:potassium nitrate
Spinacia oleracea; clinical trial; dentifrice; dentinal hypersensitivity; potassium nitrate