Methods:Those, who satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria, were recruited into a randomised, double-blinded, controlled clinical trial. Based on the gender, age and the mean visual analogue scale (VAS) scores in screening, subjects were randomly assigned into two groups. Test toothpastes, containing 5.53% potassium citrate and 0.76% sodium monofluorophosphate were delivered to the test group, and control toothpastes, containing only 0.76% sodium monofluorophosphate were delivered to the control group. They were asked to brush their teeth twice a day, and at least one minute each time. The study subjects were followed up at 4 weeks and 8 weeks. The severity of DH was scored in VAS in response to a blast of air from a triple-syringe by a clinical examiner using compressed air as 60±5p.s.i.. A subjective evaluation of changes in the individual's overall sensitivity to 'everyday' stimuli was also scored in VAS.
Results:At the time of 8-week evaluation, 31 and 26 subjects were remained in the study respectively. From baseline to 8-week evaluation, the mean VAS scores to cold air and subjects' self-perceived VAS scores of the subjects decreased both in the test and control groups. However, the reduction in mean VAS scores to cold air from baseline to 4-week evaluation of the subjects in the test group was statistically significant to that in the control group (1.12 vs. 0.32, p<0.05). The reduction in mean subjects' self-perceived VAS scores from baseline to 8-week evaluation of the subjects in the test group was statistically significant to that in the control group (1.59 vs. 0.24, p<0.05).
Conclusions:Results of the clinical trial showed that toothpastes containing 5.53% potassium citrate were effective in reducing dentine hypersensitivity.