Method: Sixty-six volunteers satisfied the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Their responses to tactile and thermal stimuli together with a subjective assessment of their sensitivity were assessed on a 0 -10 analogue scale. Following four-weeks' home use of fluoride toothpaste (Aronal), their responses were reassessed. Volunteers (n=60) with at least three sensitive teeth (i.e. a response >5 to the thermal stimulus) were assigned to either an amine fluoride gel or the non-fluoride control group and instructed to apply the test product three times a week to the sensitive teeth. Volunteers were provided with fluoride toothpaste (Aronal; 0.76% NaMFP) and a soft toothbrush (Elmex Supersoft) to use throughout the study. Three other sensitive teeth (control teeth) received no treatment. Dentine sensitivity was assessed as before after 2, 4 and 8 weeks' use of the test products.
Results: Fifty-seven volunteers (15 male, 42 female; mean age 35.2 years sd 11.0) completed the study. Data were analysed by ANOVA techniques. Responses to the tactile stimuli were reduced following application of either the amine fluoride gel (44% reduction; p=0.08) or the control gel (38% reduction; p=0.10) after 8 weeks. Response to the thermal stimulus was significantly (p<0.001) reduced (amine fluoride gel 36% reduction; control gel 36% reduction) but there was no significant difference between the groups. The subjective response to the treatment showed a non-significant reduction in sensitivity following application of the test gels with no significant difference between the responses of the two groups.
Conclusions: The results demonstrated that application of an amine fluoride gel or a non-fluoride control gel at least three-times a week will reduce the symptoms of dentine sensitivity over a period of eight weeks.
Study supported by GABA International, Switzerland.