Year : 2024

Volume : Volume 16

Issue : Issue 1

Address for correspondence :
Dr. Vineet Nair
drvineet_nair@yahoo.co.in

Abstract

Background: Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is a “short, sharp pain arising from exposed dentin in response to stimuli, typically thermal, evaporative, tactile, osmotic, or chemical, which cannot be ascribed to any other form of dental defect or pathology.” Needless to say, it becomes a nightmare to the patient to eat or drink. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of fluoride varnish (sodium fluoride [NaF]), 980 nm diode laser, and the combination of both in the treatment of DH immediately post-operative, at the end of 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 patients with minimum three hypersensitive teeth in at least one quadrant were selected and randomly divided into three groups as per their treatment modality- Group A- treated by 5% NaF varnish application alone, Group B- 980 nm gallium-aluminum–arsenide laser diode laser (0.5 W) irradiation alone, Group C- NaF varnish application, followed by diode laser irradiation. All the hypersensitive teeth were stimulated with tactile, thermal, and air stimuli and the pre-treatment and posttreatment hypersensitivity scores were evaluated with the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) at baseline, 30 min, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. Results: On completion of the study, there was a statistically significant reduction in NRS scores within the three groups for the tactile, thermal, and air stimuli from baseline to 6 months. Group B and Group C demonstrated a significantly higher reduction (P < 0.05) in DH for all the stimuli as compared to Group A at all follow-up intervals. However, a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) was also present between Group B and Group C at all follow-ups. Conclusion: NaF varnish followed by diode laser application is significantly more effective than fluoride varnish alone and/or diode laser alone in the treatment of DH.