Dentin hypersensitivity monitored by cold air quantitative sensory testing

Abstract

Summary Background Quantification of dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is challenging and requires standardised, graded stimulation by natural‐like stimuli. Objective The present study aimed at identifying DH subjects and longitudinally monitoring their pain thresholds by cold air quantitative sensory testing (QST). Methods Subject recruitment started with an online DH questionnaire. Respondents were screened by dental air stimulation. Sensitising and habituating subjects were excluded. A recently developed stimulation device was employed for cold air QST. Single tooth DH was verified by applying an equi‐intense stimulus to a control tooth. Descriptive statistics were applied for subject characteristics. Mean values were calculated for the stimulation parameters temperature and air flow. Reliability of temperatures for detecting pain and for evoking moderate pain over multiple time points within a 3‐week period was analysed by two‐way random single‐ and average‐measure intra‐class correlation coefficients. Results A total of 353 persons completed the online DH questionnaire of which 117 were screened. Forty‐four passed the screening, yet 15 were excluded for various reasons. Twenty‐nine subjects were monitored by QST across 3 weeks. Results revealed a high intra‐individual stability of the temperature inducing moderate to strong pain intensity (MPI) (single‐measure ICC of TMPI 0.83, P < 0.001). Mean TMPI was −13.69°C, yet it highly varied among the 29 subjects (SD ± 10.04°C). Conclusions Using a novel approach, namely dental QST based on cold air stimuli, we present evidence for temporally stable DH perceptions over a 3‐week period. The method fulfils international guideline requirements and is recommendable for obtaining valid results when testing various interventions for DH management.

Prevalence of sensitive teeth and associated factors: a multicentre, cross-sectional questionnaire survey in France

“…All data interpretation must necessarily take this limitation into consideration. Even when considering only DH, current methods employ non-gradable mechanical and cold metal/air/water/ice stimuli and use response scales that often rely on subject-investigator interaction that lacks validation [32]. A novel approach, dental quantitative sensory testing, based on controlled graded cold air stimuli, looks promising for obtaining reliable measurements of DH [32].…”

Late Post-Operative Occurrence of Dentin Hypersensitivity in Adult Patients Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation—A Preliminary Report

“…Then the patients were carefully examined (see below) and included to assess the presence or absence of DH. The exclusion criteria from the hypersensitivity clinical trial were complete edentulism and teeth in which the pain may have been caused by factors other than DH: dental treatment less than 4 weeks before screening or during the ongoing study, caries, defective restorations, crowns, gross periodontal disease, trauma in the past 12 months [28].…”

“…Each qualified tooth was tested for hypersensitivity through exposure to a low temperature (cold air). The clinician applied a 1-s blast of cold air from an air-water syringe at a distance of 1 cm to the vestibular surface of the tooth, with the adjacent teeth being shielded [28]. Hypersensitivity to thermal stimuli was assessed using the three-grade scale devised by Addy, Mostaf and Newcombe [31]: 1 • -discomfort; 2 • -pain occurs after the stimulus has been activated, but disappears after cessation; 3 • -prolonged pain after stimulus has been withdrawn.…”

Sylc Air Polishing Versus Fluoride Varnish Application in Managing Dentin Hypersensitivity in Non-Carious Cervical Lesions: A Randomized Clinical Trial

“…Several approaches to DH treatment were proposed to interfere, whether transiently or permanently, with the hydrodynamic theory. These approaches include root coverage and the use of lasers, ions, dentinal sealants, and occluding and nerve depolarization agents, chosen according to the primary cause [6]. There are two major strategies in managing DH; the first is nerve desensitization, and the second is the physical occlusion of the patent tubule.…”