Management of dentine hypersensitivity

Abstract

Dentine hypersensitivity may be defined as short, sharp pain arising from exposed dentine typically in response to chemical, thermal or osmotic stimuli that cannot be explained as arising from any other forms of dental defect or pathology.1 Dentine hypersensitivity is a common problem found in many adult populations. A study on 226 patients attending a dental hospital in Hong Kong in 2003 found about two third of the patients (68%) had dentine hypersensitivity.2 The commonest initiating factor for dentine hypersensitivity among them was cold drinks. While many studies reported the commonest teeth affected are the premolars, the study found the commonest teeth affected were the lower incisors; and the majority of hypersensitive dentine surfaces were present on the facial surface of the teeth. The study also showed that dentine hypersensitivity peaked between 40 and 50 years of age, followed by a decline with age. The probable reason for this drop in dentine hypersensitivity after the fifth decade may be related to the pulpal changes with increasing age, particularly dentinal sclerosis and the laying down of secondary or tertiary dentine.