Dental hypersensitivity among adult patients in dar es salaam, tanzania

Method:  This hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted between July and September 2012 to involved 323 adults aged 18 years and above attended dental treatment in public dental clinic in Dar es Salaam. Self-administered structured questionnaire were used to gather subject’s socio-demographic particulars and information related to DH. Tactile stimulus test was performed during clinical examinations to determine status of DH by using verbal rating scale

Result: The male to female ratio of the 323 participants was approximately one (1:1.1) with age range of 18-72 years. Level of awareness on DH was 88.2%. About two thirds (63.2%) of respondents were self-reported to have DH. Of the predisposing practices related to DH, cigarette smoking was found to be statistically significant (p=0.007).  From the clinical examination, the prevalence of DH was 46.4% with predominance of males [79 (52.7%)] and higher age group (50-79 years) [33 (63.5%)] Among other oral conditions diagnosed during clinical examination, attrition, abrasion, erosion, gingival recession, periodontal pocket and plaque accumulation were commonly observed with DH and significantly related with it (p≤ 0.05)

Conclusion: Majority of the respondents have acceptable level of awareness however the prevalence of self-reported DH was high (63.2%). The major predisposing practice was observed to be cigarette smoking. The prevalence of clinically diagnosed DH is higher (46.4%) in comparison to most of the studies conducted worldwide and with slight common in male than female though it was not significant. DH was observed to be higher in the older age group (50 to 79 years). The predisposing factors clinically diagnosed, to be significantly related to occurrence of DH were attrition, abrasion, erosion, gingival recession, presence of periodontal pocket and plaque accumulation