A Prevalence Study of Dentine Hypersensitivity in China

A prevalence study of dentine hypersensitivity in rural area of Sichuan province, China K.H. Que, D.Y. Hu, and X. Li* Department of Preventive Dentistry, West China College of Sichuan University Objectives: The objective of this study was to carry out a prevalence study of dentin hypersensitivity (DH) in rural area of Chengdu, China over a two-month period. Methods: A total of 660 subjects were distributed equally in four villages selected randomly in two counties of Sichuan province and of all age groups and different genders respectively included the same number of subjects in each village. All subjects were examined using a triple syringe to administer a blast of cold air to confirm the diagnosis of DH. Related factors such as age, gender, pain-inciting stimuli, and duration were recorded in the questionnaire. Results: The study presented that the prevalence of rural area of Sichuan province were about 33.5%. Females presented a similar higher prevalence of hypersensitivity than males (P<0.01) and cold was reported the commonest provoking factor, meanwhile most subjects with DH in oral test reported a duration of more than 5 years. The distribution of DH in tooth type revealed premolar was most commonly affected and while the second molar showed the lowest one. Conclusion: The prevalence of DH in rural area of Sichuan province was 33.5%. KEY WORDS: Dentine hypersensitivity, Prevalence, Rural area, Random sampling.