The objective of the present study was to compare the effects of a commercially available dentifrice containing 2% strontium chloride and 5% potassium nitrate in a silica base, versus a control dentifrice, containing exactly the same ingredients apart from strontium chloride and potassium nitrate, on the instant and lasting relief of DH.
Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is a very common complaint that occurs in the general population. The intensity of the pain can be minor to very serious, which may prevent one from eating or performing ordinary oral hygiene practices. The most accepted mechanism by which DH occurs is hydrodynamic theory, which suggests that pain-producing stimuli cause rapid movement of fluid within the dentin tubules, as a result the free nerve endings, at the inner ends of the tubules or the periphery of the pulp, are excited and DH occurs. According to this theory, one approach to treat DH is reducing dentin tubule fluid movement through occluding open tubules. Strontium chloride was the first tubule-blocking ingredient used in dentifrice about fifty years ago and since that time a paucity of clinical studies have been carried out to test its effectiveness on DH. The other approach is to reduce the pulp nerve excitability by depolarizing the nerve endings, in which the most widely used material is potassium salts. Although there is limited clinical evidence that dentifrices containing strontium chloride or potassium nitrate alone, as the major desensitizing agent, has an effect on reducing DH, no clinical studies have shown the effectiveness of a dentifrice containing both strontium chloride and potassium nitrate in a silica base on alleviating DH.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
79
use the dentifrice to brush teeth twice a day for one minute for 3 days
use the dentifrice to brush teeth twice daily for 3 days
the State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Tactile Hypersensitivity Scores Immediately After Topical Dentifrice Use
Immediately after dentifice use, tactile hypersensitivity assessments were done using an Electronic Force Sensing Probe (Yeaple Probe Model 200A, Xinix Research Inc., USA). Scores were recorded in terms of a quantified force applied by a #19 explorer tip. After presetting the probe to 10 grams, the tip of the probe was run across the exposed dentin perpendicular to the examined surface. Subsequent passes were made, each time the applied force was increased by 10 grams, until the subject indicated that he/she was experiencing discomfort, or until the maximum force of 50 grams had been reached.
Time frame: immediately after dentifrice use
Air Blast Hypersensitivity Scores Immediately After Topical Dentifrice Use
The tooth was isolated. Air was delivered from a standard dental unit air syringe and directed at the exposed buccal surface of the hypersensitive tooth for 1 second. The Schiff Cold Air Sensitivity Scale was used to assess the subjects' response. 0 - Subject does not respond to air stimulus; 1. \- Subject responds to air stimulus, but does not request discontinuation of stimulus; 2. \- Subject responds to air stimulus and requests discontinuation or moves from stimulus; 3. \- Subject responds to air stimulus, considers stimulus to be painful, and requests discontinuation of the stimulus.
Time frame: immediately after dentifrice use
Tactile Hypersensitivity Score After 3 Days of Dentifrice Use
After 3 days, tactile hypersensitivity assessments were done using an Electronic Force Sensing Probe (Yeaple Probe Model 200A, Xinix Research Inc., USA). Scores were recorded in terms of a quantified, reproducible force applied by a #19 explorer tip. After presetting the probe to 10 grams, the tip of the probe was run across the exposed dentin perpendicular to the examined surface. Subsequent passes were made, each time the applied force was increased by 10 grams, until the subject indicated that he/she was experiencing discomfort, or until the maximum force of 50 grams had been reached.
Time frame: 3 days after dentifrice use
Air Blast Hypersensitivity Score 3 Days After Dentifrice Use
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After 3 days, tooth was isolated. Air was delivered from a standard dental unit air syringe and directed at exposed buccal surface of the hypersensitive tooth for 1 second. The Schiff Cold Air Sensitivity Scale was used to assess the subjects' response. 0 - Subject does not respond to air stimulus; 1. \- Subject responds to air stimulus, but does not request discontinuation of stimulus; 2. \- Subject responds to air stimulus and requests discontinuation or moves from stimulus; 3. \- Subject responds to air stimulus, considers stimulus to be painful, and requests discontinuation of the stimulus.
Time frame: 3 days after dentifrice use