Treatment of frictional dental hypersensitivity (FDH) with computer-guided occlusal adjustments.
OBJECTIVE
To verify the efficacy of treating dentin/dental hypersensitivity (DH) to Cold Ice Water Swish testing before and after subjects undergo the Immediate Complete Anterior Guidance Development (ICAGD) computer-guided occlusal adjustment.


METHODS
One hundred chronically dysfunctional patients with known cold sensitivity swished ice water intraorally to elicit a DH response scored on a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The subjects then underwent the ICAGD coronoplasty, which was followed by a second ice water swish scored with a second VAS. The pre to post ICAGD Disclusion Time values and VAS scores were statistically evaluated by the Wilcoxon Signed Rank for Paired Difference test. The subjects were divided into subgroups with DH sensitivities <4 and ≥4, and analyzed. Limitations were as follows: abfractions were not quantified, dysfunctional symptom resolution was not determined, each subject was their own control, one clinician administered all ice water tests, and protrusive excursions were not included.


RESULTS
Disclusion Time reductions from ICAGD were significant (2.11-0.55 s. p = 0.0000). The DH score changes showed highly significant decreases from pre to post ICAGD (p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
A partial etiology for cold tooth sensitivity exists, resultant from prolonged occlusal surface excursive movement frictional contacts. This cold sensitivity can be lessened with measured, computer-guided occlusal adjustments.
a Private Practice , Rogers , AR , USA.
Nick
N
Yiannios
b BioResearch Associates, Inc. , Marquette University , Milwaukee , WI , USA.
Robert B
RB
Kerstein
b BioResearch Associates, Inc. , Marquette University , Milwaukee , WI , USA.
John
J
Radke
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D017276:Friction; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019558:Occlusal Adjustment / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D064232:Visual Analog Scale
Disclusion Time reduction; Frictional Dental Hypersensitivity (FDH); Immediate Complete Anterior Guidance Development (ICAGD); Visual Analog Scale (VAS); cold water ice swish test