Not all dentine hypersensitivity solutions are equal

Colgate discusses screening, diagnosing and treating dentine hypersensitivity, plus the best products to address it.

Dentine hypersensitivity (DHS): a chronic problem (Davari et al, 2013; Dam et al, 2022). Up to 57% of dental patients suffer from dentine hypersensitivity (Berg et al, 2021), so identifying DHS is essential (Canadian Advisory Board, 2023). The steps to screening, diagnosing and treating DHS are:

1. Actively screen and diagnose

• Routinely ask your patients if they have experienced any discomfort or pain recently within the last month at each visit
• Obtain patient history, including a description of the pain (especially short/sharp), what causes it and what food and drinks the patient enjoys regularly
• Examine the patient for gingival recession or loss of enamel (West et al, 2013; Baker, 2019).

2. Educate

Inform patients about risk factors that may worsen DHS, eg acidic foods/drinks, incorrect brushing (Canadian Advisory Board, 2023).

3. Recommend

At-home desensitising products have been shown to significantly reduce sensitivity pain (Canadian Advisory Board, 2023; Pepelassi, 2015; Porto et al, 2009).

Many product technologies claim to provide relief from the pain of sensitive teeth

How do you know which is the most effective when they are not all supported by the same level of scientific evidence?

Independent experts came together to filter 150 studies, examine and compare findings including 62 studies to objectively assess treatments for dentine hypersensitivity (Addy, 1990). This review included available randomised controlled trials relating to the efficacy of many desensitising technologies such as PRO-ARGIN, Novamin and Stannous only.

PRO-ARGIN emerged as the most clinically proven desensitising occluding toothpaste technology for the management of dentine hypersensitivity pain.

PRO-ARGIN technology consists of arginine and calcium carbonate, which build into a complex that forms a calcium-rich layer (Liu et al, 2022). When binding to the dentine surface, the calcium-rich layer instantly* occludes the open dentine tubules in just 60 seconds*. This offers 1.5x more in vitro tubule occlusion vs competitive technology (Liu et al, 2022).

Switch on instant^* and long-lasting^** relief with Colgate SENSITIVE INSTANT Relief (Nathoo et al, 2009; Docimo et al, 20090.

Click here to find out more.

Disclaimers and references

*For instant relief, apply directly to the sensitive tooth with a fingertip and massage gently for 1 minute, up to twice a day and for children 6-12 years once a week or less frequently.

**With continued use 2x per day. For lasting relief, apply to a gentle toothbrush making sure to brush all sensitive areas of the teeth.

#PRO-ARGIN technology vs stannous fluoride/sodium fluoride technology, in vitro study, confocal images after five treatments.

##Versus previous formula, in vitro occlusion after 3 brushings.

^Versus previous formula, in vitro acid resistance after 5 brushings.

1. Davari AR, et al. Dent Shiraz Univ Med Sci. 2013;14(3):136-45.
2. Dam VV, et al. Open Dent J. 2022;16:e187421062201130.
3. Berg C, et al. J Funct Biomater. 2021;12:27.
4. Canadian Advisory Board, J of Can Dent Assoc. 2003.
5. West NX, et al. Clin Oral Invest. 2013;17(Suppl 1):9-19.
6. Baker P. Prim Dent J. 2019;8(4):40-7.
7. Pepelassi E. J Clin Periodontol. 2015;42(1):37-45.
8. Porto ICCM, et al. J Oral Sci. 2009;51:323-32.
9. Addy, Dent Clin North Am 1990;34:503-51
10. Pollard et al. J of Dent. 130 (2023) 10443:1-13. Independent Meta-analysis 2023 based on clinical studies of toothpaste occluding technologies.
11. Liu Y, et al. J Dent Res. 2022;101(Spec Iss B):80.
12. Nathoo et al. J Clin Dent. 2009;20 (Spec Iss):123–130 (For instant relief, apply directly to the sensitive tooth with finger tip and gently massage for 1 minute).
13. With continued use, Docimo et al. J Clin Dent. 2009;20 (Spec Iss):17– 22.

This article is sponsored by Colgate.