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Although dentine hypersensitivity (DH) has been widely investigated, studies based on randomly selected general practice populations are scarce. This study aimed to examine the intra-oral distribution of DH and its association with age, sex, symptoms, stimuli, pre-disposing factors and management strategies in a private practice patient population in Australia. A randomly selected sample of 800 Australian private dental practice dentists was invited to participate in a questionnaire-based survey. A log diary about the total number of patients seen during a typical week in practice and the details of patients with DH were recorded. The details included teeth and sites involved with DH and the age and sex of people affected, symptoms, stimuli, pre-disposing factors and management strategies. The prevalence of DH was 9·1% among patients seen over the typical week with 2·3 teeth/person and 1·2 surfaces/tooth affected. Women (60·7%) were more affected than men (39·3%) whilst 30- to 49 -year-olds (48·8%) were the most common among those affected. Premolars (36·5%) and buccal surfaces (54·8%), respectively, were the most commonly affected teeth and tooth sites. Although cold stimulation (80·1%) was the commonest stimulus, dietary acid was the only stimulus that was significantly associated with DH. Gingival recession and erosion emerged as significant pre-disposing factors, whereas using desensitising toothpastes was the most important management strategy. The findings suggested that dietary acid, gingival recession and erosion were significantly associated with DH, while desensitising toothpastes was the key management strategy used for DH in this patient population.

Australian dentists' perception of dentine hypersensitivity is generally consistent with the current scientific consensus on this subject.

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