title: Comparison of low level laser and arginine-calcium carbonate alone or combination in the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity: a randomized split-mouth clinical study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to compare the efficacy of low-level laser (LLL) and desensitizing paste (DP) containing 8% arginine-calcium carbonate, in the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity (DH) and also to determine whether their combined application would improve the efficacy of the treatment.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  There are various options for the treatment of DH; however, superiority of one method over others alone has not been currently demonstrated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one patients with 156 teeth affected by DH were included in the study. Selected teeth were randomly divided into five groups: LLL, DP, laser followed by DP (LLL+DP), DP followed by laser (DP+LLL) applied to one of the quadrants, and a control group, consisting of a randomly selected additional tooth in one of the quadrants. Teeth were irradiated by the 685 nm diode laser treatment with 25 mW at 9 Hz for 100sec at 1 cm(2) area (2J/cm(2)) in interrupted mode. Pain response to evaporative stimulus was quantified on a visual analogue scale (VAS) over a 90-day period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All four treatment groups experienced significant and persistent decrease in the mean VAS score immediately post-treatment until the end of the study, whereas the placebo group had high VAS scores throughout the study. On day 90, percent reduction in VAS scores was 72% for LLL, 65.4% for DP, 54.6% for LLL+DP, and 69.6% for DP+LLL, whereas the placebo group showed an increase of 7.8%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The application of either LLL or DP containing 8% arginine-calcium carbonate appears to be effective in decreasing DH. However, their combined use does not improve the efficacy beyond what is attainable with either treatment alone.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Periodontology, Dental Sciences Center, Gulhane Military Medical Academy , Ankara, Turkey .
authors.forename: Mehmet Vehbi
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Bal
authors.forename: İlker
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Keskiner
authors.forename: Ufuk
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sezer
authors.forename: Cengizhan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Açıkel
authors.forename: Işıl
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Saygun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001120:Arginine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D057133:Dentin Desensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D057133:Dentin Desensitizing Agents; D001120:Arginine; D002119:Calcium Carbonate