The Efficacy and Durability of Three Desensitising Agents for Management of Hypersensitive Teeth: An In Vitro Study

Abstract

Introduction: Dentine hypersensitivity (DH) is a brief and acute pain produced when dentine is subjected to various stimuli. The treatment for DH has been classified by mode of delivery as at- home and in-office therapy. It was proven that desensitising agents have the capacity for occluding dentinal tubules. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and durability of desensitising agents for management of DH. Methods: Twelve non-carious extracted human permanent premolars were sectioned into dentine layer. The dentine disc specimens were divided into four groups. Each group were applied with 8% arginine-calcium toothpaste, 0.24% sodium fluoride toothpaste, 5% potassium nitrate toothpaste and distilled water respectively. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) is used to evaluate the magnitude changes of dentinal tubules post treatment with the desensitising toothpastes in terms of the efficacy and durability at day one, week one and week three after application. The data will be analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software (version 19.0). Results: All toothpastes demonstrated significant dentinal tubule occlusions. However, 8% arginine-calcium toothpaste showed the greatest percentage of occlusion at day one followed by potassium nitrate toothpaste and sodium fluoride toothpaste. After three weeks, 8% arginine-calcium toothpaste remained the greatest percentage of dentinal tubules occlusion Conclusion: The result revealed that 8% arginine-calcium toothpaste is the most efficient and has longer durability among the other toothpaste. Therefore, with this finding it could help the patient for selection of desensitising toothpaste in managing the DH.