A Study of Dentine Hypersensitivity in Western and Eastern China

Objectives: The objective of this study was to carry out a cross-sectional study of dentin hypersensitivity (DH) in community population compared between Western and Eastern China over a two-month period. Methods: Both of Chengdu and Xian cities, and Shanghai city, as central cities of Western and Eastern China respectively, have been selected to undertake this investigation. Related criteria about DH reached an agreement prior to the study and only one practitioner was permitted to examine in each city, all of whom have completed consistency checking. 3960 subjects were distributed equally in communities selected randomly and of all age groups and different genders respectively included the same number of subjects in each community. Subjects reporting hypersensitivity were examined further 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 Western and Eastern China respectively were 25.5% and 32.6% in intraoral test and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). In both areas related factors investigated about DH showed similar results. 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 Eastern China appears somewhat higher than that found in Western China.