Brazilian dentists' perception of dentin hypersensitivity management

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate how Brazilian dentists perceive and manage dentin hypersensitivity (DH) in their clinical routine. A 13-item questionnaire-based survey was developed and sent electronically to a convenience sample of dentists. The questionnaire assessed the personal and dental practice characteristics of the sample, the occurrence of DH in their daily clinical practice, and management strategies. The data were analyzed descriptively and together with the chi-square test (a = 0.05). A total of 353 responses were obtained from September 2017 to March 2018. Of all the respondents, 62% were females, 49.9% reported fewer than five years of dental practice, and 70.5% were self-identified as private practitioners. Most of the dentists reported an estimated frequency (30-60%) of patients with DH in their practice. The most frequently cited (91.79%) trigger of DH was air blast and/or scratching with a probe. The first-choice strategy to manage DH was a dentin desensitizer (48.16%). The number of years in clinical practice did not influence DH relapse frequency (p = 0.76) significantly, or consider DH treatment as a problem (p = 0.22). The present findings indicate that, regardless of clinical experience, dentists in Brazil still consider DH management a challenge in their daily dental practice. In addition, the results suggest that guidelines should be developed to disseminate the available knowledge regarding this condition in ways that may influence decision-making processes among practitioners.

Knowledge of Brazilian dentists and students in treating dentine hypersensitivity

“…The responses analysed in this study were in general agreement with previous questionnaires although there were some discrepancies in relation to the aetiology, diagnosis and management of DH. It is clear that there is no overall consensus in the management of DH particularly with respect to the products recommended for treating it (Canadian Advisory Board on Dentin Hypersensitivity, 2003;Cunha-Cruz, et al, 2010;Exarchou, et al, 2019;Gillam, et al, 2002;Gillam, et al, 2019;Hatton, et al, 2012;Hatton, et al, 2020;Izhar, et al, 2019;Kopycka-Kedzierawski, et al, 2017;Pereira, et al, 2018;Schuurs, et al, 1995;Zeola, et al, 2020).…”

“…For example, in the various published studies numerous aetiological factors were suggested such as attrition, abrasion, gingival recession, erosion etc. (Canadian Advisory Board on Dentin Hypersensitivity, 2003;Gillam, et al, 1999;Cunha-Cruz, et al, 2010;Gillam, et al, 2002;Izhar, et al, 2019;Kopycka-Kedzierawski, et al, 2017;Schuurs, et al, 1995;Zeola, et al, 2020), however some of these suggestions are not supported by the evidence (Canadian Advisory Board on Dentin Hypersensitivity, 2003). For example, attrition, abrasion and gingival recession together with over-zealous toothbrushing, periodontal procedures etc., have been suggested as primary aetiological causes for the development of DH, however, it is accepted that "erosion" is the primary cause of DH (Canadian Advisory Board on Dentin Hypersensitivity, 2003).…”

“…As with most published questionnaire studies on DH clinicians provide a wide range of diagnostic steps when determining DH from other clinical conditions, in the present study the main clinical steps included a history of DH, clinical examination, clinical testing (cold and evaporative) and probing (Cunha-Cruz, et al, 2010;Gillam, et al, 2002;Izhar, et al, 2019;Kopycka-Kedzierawski, et al, 2017;Schuurs, et al, 1995;Zeola, et al, 2020). There was also a wide range of clinical assessments used to evaluate pain from DH including self-assessment, dental examination, dietary analysis, and thermal assessment etc.…”

Atividades Remotas No Projeto De Lesões Cervicais Não Cariosas (Lcnc-Moc) Em Período De Pandemia

“…A perda da substância dentária, segundo a teoria hidrodinâmica, provoca a estimulação dos barorreceptores pulpares causada pelo fluxo de fluído no interior dos túbulos dentinários levando a uma descarga neural que é transmitida como uma sensação dolorosa. Estes aspectos tendem a causar um impacto negativo na rotina relacionada com a saúde oral, produzindo sensação dolorosa em atividades orais diárias, como comer, beber, escovar os dentes e respirar (ZEOLA et al, 2020).…”

“…O tratamento da HD tem como princípio reduzir a movimentação dos fluidos dentinários por meio de oclusão tubular reduzindo a dor. Atualmente, existem dessensibilizantes que atuam por meio desse mecanismo, sendo encontrados na forma de selantes, vernizes, géis, pastas profilácticas ou sistemas adesivos, podendo conter diversos ingredientes ativos, tais como flúor, oxalatos, nitrato de potássio e fosfatos de cálcio (ZEOLA et al, 2020).…”