Efficacy of a Combined In-Office/At-Home Treatment for Dentin Hypersensitivity Relief

OBJECTIVES: This double-blind clinical study evaluated the efficacy for the reduction of dentin hypersensitivity following dental scaling with sustained relief for 24 weeks from a treatment regimen consisting of a professionally applied 8.0% arginine and calcium carbonate desensitizing paste and daily brushing with an 8.0% arginine and calcium carbonate toothpaste and a sensitive toothbrush. METHODS: One hundred adults with confirmed air blast and tactile-induced dentin hypersensitivity were randomly assigned to receive a rotary-cup-applied single treatment with one of two in-office pastes as the final polishing step to a dental scaling: Colgate® Sensitive Pro-Relief™ desensitizing paste (test regimen) or Nupro-M® pumice prophylaxis paste (negative control). Hypersensitivity was re-examined immediately after product application and after 8 and 24 weeks of brushing twice daily with Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief Toothpaste and Colgate® 360º Sensitive Pro-Relief™ toothbrush (test regimen), or with a calcium carbonate toothpaste and Oral-B® Indicator® toothbrush (negative control).

RESULTS: A total of 95 subjects completed the study. No statistically significant differences in tactile or air blast hypersensitivity scores were indicated at baseline between the two groups. Immediately after professional product application, and after subsequent twice daily brushing for 8 and 24 weeks, subjects assigned to the test regimen treatment demonstrated statistically significant improvements in dentin hypersensitivity compared to subjects assigned to the control regimen treatment in tactile (49.8%, 57.5% and 32.9%, respectively) and air blast (26.0%, 38.4% and 34.3%, respectively) sensitivity scores.

CONCLUSIONS: The professionally applied 8.0% arginine and calcium carbonate desensitizing paste provided a statistically significant reduction in dentin hypersensitivity as compared to the control prophylaxis paste immediately after a single treatment following a dental scaling. The instant sensitivity relief afforded by the professional application was maintained by twice daily brushing with the 8.0% arginine and calcium carbonate toothpaste and the specified sensitive toothbrush for at least 24 weeks.