Colgate discusses the impact sensitivity has on quality of life, how to diagnose it, and the best treatment for instant and simple relief.
Gingival recession or loss on enamel can both lead to exposure of dentine, causing dentine hypersensitivity (West and colleagues 2013; Baker, 2019). The impact of sensitive teeth goes beyond just pain. Patients’ often develop coping strategies that can seriously impact their quality of life (Mason and colleagues, 2019; Gillam, 2021; Bekes and colleagues, 2009).
These strategies include adapting toothbrushing technique (Mason and colleagues, 2019), eating on one side of the mouth, changing eating habits (Gillam, 2021), and distress during a dental visit (Bekes and colleagues, 2009).
Dentine hypersensitivity (DHS) is a common, chronic problem (Davari and colleagues, 2013; Dam and colleagues, 2022) for up to 57% of dental patients (Berg and colleagues, 2021). Identifying patients suffering with dentine hypersensitivity is essential (Canadian Advisory Board, 2003).
How to screen and diagnose dentine hypersensitivity (Hines, 2021)
- Proactively ask your patients if they have experienced any discomfort or pain recently within the last month at each visit
- Obtain patient history, including a description of the pain (especially short/sharp), what causes it and what food and drinks the patient enjoys regularly
- Examine the patient for gingival recession or loss of enamel (West and colleagues 2013; Baker, 2019).
Treatment of dentine hypersensitivity
Turning off sensitivity pain is as instant and simple as the flick of a switch with Colgate Sensitive Instant Relief. The PRO-ARGIN technology consists of arginine and calcium carbonate.
The arginine and calcium builds into a complex that forms a calcium-rich layer. When binding to the dentine surface, the calcium-rich layer instantly* occludes the open dentine tubules in just 60 seconds*. The technology also provides long-lasting** relief from the pain of sensitive teeth.
PRO-ARGIN technology provides 1.5x more tubule occlusion versus competitive technology# (Liu and colleagues, 2022).
The Colgate Sensitive Instant Relief range: a solution for every patient with sensitivity.
This article is sponsored by Colgate.
Disclaimers and references
# Treatment of certain conditions may take priority over the treatment of dentine hypersensitivity. Please follow local guidelines with regards to treatment.
*For instant relief, apply directly to the sensitive tooth with a fingertip and massage gently for one minute up to twice a day, and for children aged six to 12 years, once a week or less frequently.
**With continued use twice per day. For lasting relief, apply to a gentle toothbrush making sure to brush all sensitive areas of the teeth.
‡After four weeks of continued use.
- Baker P (2019) Gingival Recession – Causes and Management. Primary Dental Journal 8(4): 40-47
- Bekes K, John M T, Schaller H G, Hirsch C (2009) Oral health-related quality of life in patients seeking care for dentin hypersensitivity. J Oral Rehabil 36(1): 45-51
- Berg C, Unosson E, Engqvist H, Xia W (2021) Comparative Study of Technologies for Tubule Occlusion and Treatment of Dentin Hypersensitivity. Journal of Functional
- Biomaterials 12(2)
- Canadian Advisory Board on Dentin Hypersensitivity (2003) Consensus-based recommendations for the diagnosis and management of dentin hypersensitivity. J Can Dent Assoc 69(4):2 21-6
- Dam V V, Dung D T, Hai TD, Nguyen T H, Trinh H A (2022) Advances in the Management of Dentin Hypersensitivity: An Updated Review. Open Dent J 16
- Davari A, Ataei E, Assarzadeh H (2013) Dentin hypersensitivity: etiology, diagnosis and treatment; a literature review. J Dent (Shiraz) 14(3):136-45
- Docimo R, Montesani L, Maturo P, Costacurta M, Bartolino M, Zhang YP, DeVizio W, Delgado E, Cummins D, Dibart S, Mateo L R )2009) Comparing the efficacy in reducing dentin hypersensitivity of a new toothpaste containing 8.0% arginine, calcium carbonate, and 1450 ppm fluoride to a benchmark commercial desensitizing toothpaste containing 2% potassium ion: an eight-week clinical study in Rome, Italy. J Clin Dent 20(4): 137-43
- Gillam D G (2021) The Impact of Dentine Hypersensitivity on the Quality of Life: An Overview. Clin Oral Sci Dent 4(1): 1-5
- Hines D (2021) Colgate-Palmolive Technology Center
- Lai H Y and colleagues (2015) J Clin Periodontol 42:17
- Liu Y and colleagues (2022) 101(B): 80
- Nathoo S, Delgado E, Zhang Y P, DeVizio W, Cummins D, Mateo L R (2009) Comparing the efficacy in providing instant relief of dentin hypersensitivity of a new toothpaste containing 8.0% arginine, calcium carbonate, and 1450 ppm fluoride relative to a benchmark desensitizing toothpaste containing 2% potassium ion and 1450 ppm fluoride, and to a control toothpaste with 1450 ppm fluoride: a three-day clinical study in New Jersey, USA. J Clin Dent 20(4):123-30 West N X, Lussi A, Seong J, Hellwig E (2013) Dentin hypersensitivity: pain mechanisms and aetiology of exposed cervical dentin. Clin Oral Investig 17(1): 9-19.
