Dentin Hypersensitivity Treatment by Two Fluoride Application Methods: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of high-concentration of fluoride toothpastes (5000ppm of Sodium Fluoride) and a fluoride varnish on the hypersensitive root surfaces.
Methods: N=14 patients were recruited and randomly divided in two groups of treatment: 1) 5000 ppm/F toothpaste (CLINPRO 5000; 3MESPE) and 2) fluoride varnish (DUOFLUORIDE XII; FGM). All teeth that presented exposed root surfaces were evaluated by patient. Hypersensitivity was evaluated by numerical scale of pain with air and water before treatment (baseline), 20 days and 7 months after treatment. Only one trained researcher performed all the evaluation. For the toothpaste group, patients received the toothpaste and instructions to brushing their teeth twice a day with that. For the varnish group, only one researcher, following the manufacturer’s instructions, performed a single application. Analysis of homogeneity of the patients was done at the baseline. Data normality was checked by Shapiro-Wilk test and statistical difference performed by Wilcoxon non-parametric test.
Results: The mean age of the patients was 54,13 years in the toothpaste group and 56,81 years in the varnish group. The mean of teeth (average) by patient was 154 in the toothpaste group and 140 in the varnish group. A significant positive correlation was found when comparing pain tests to water and air (baseline r=0.68; 20 days r= 0.58). At the baseline, the groups did not differ by stimulus with air (p = 0.6) or water (p = 0.5). After 20 days of the treatment, high fluoride concentration toothpaste presented lower efficacy for hypersensitivity treatment when compared to fluorine varnish (Wilcoxon, air p = 0.02, water p = 4.288e-05). After 7 months, no statistical difference was found between the groups.
Conclusions: This randomized clinical trial suggests that fluoride varnish is more efficient in the short-term control of hypersensitivity (20 days), however after 7 months of treatment there are no differences between treatments, even with a daily use of 5000 ppm/F toothpaste.