Self-Etch Application For The Dentinal Hypersensitivity Treatment

OBJECTIVES. The aim of this study is to analyse the clinical effectiveness of materials currently used to control dentinal hypersensitivity following oral hygiene and/or periodontal procedures.MATERIALS AND METHODS. This research was conducted on 33 patients with specific and localized dentinal hypersensitivity. Sensitivity was evaluated in relation to mechanical and thermal stimuli, by subjecting the dental element to an air jet for 3-4 seconds at a distance of 1 cm from the tooth surface. The degree of sensitivity was recorded by means of a semi-quantitative subjective scale (o = no response, 1 = mild discomfort without pain, 2 = moderate pain associated with stimulation, 3 = severe, sharp, sudden pain persisting after removal of the stimulus) and before the desensitisation treatment (t0), immediately after treatment (t1) and at four 4 after treatment (t2) to evaluate the long-term stability of results.RESULTS. The statistical analysis of the data shows that, at the baseline, the tested patients presented an average value of sensitivity equal to 2.27 +/- 0.62 with a strongly decreasing trend in t1 (0.515 +/- 0.70), generally stabilized in t2 (0.575 +/- 0.77).CONCLUSIONS. The data emerging from this research show that treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity with self-etch adhesives can decrease pain induced by thermal and mechanical stimuli. The results are strongly influenced by the limited acid and demineralization action on dentin and the partial removal of the smear layer.