Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026
07:07
Development of a Direct Pulp-capping Model for the Evaluation of Pulpal Wound Healing and Reparative Dentin Formation in Mice
Published on: January 12, 2017
Clinical dentin hypersensitivity: understanding the causes and prescribing a treatment
1Oral Medicine Clinic, University of the Pacific, School of Dentistry, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA. pjacobse@uop.edu
The Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice
|August 9, 2002
Summary
Dentin hypersensitivity, characterized by tooth pain from exposed dentinal tubules, can be treated by covering tubules, plugging them, or desensitizing nerves. Effective management strategies offer relief for this common dental issue.
Area of Science:
- Dentistry
- Oral Health
- Dental Physiology
Background:
- Dentin hypersensitivity is a prevalent condition causing transient tooth pain.
- It stems from exposed dentinal tubules, often due to gingival recession and cementum loss.
- Brännström's hydrodynamic theory is the leading explanation for hypersensitivity pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the causes and treatment strategies for dentin hypersensitivity.
- To differentiate hypersensitivity from other causes of tooth sensitivity.
- To inform about available treatment options for patients.
Main Methods:
- Review of the clinical causes of dentin hypersensitivity.
- Explanation of Brännström's hydrodynamic theory.
- Outline of three principal treatment strategies.
Main Results:
- Exposed dentinal tubules are the primary clinical cause, excluding bleaching or pathology.
- Treatment involves covering tubules (grafts/restorations), plugging tubules, or nerve desensitization.
- Potassium nitrate is used for nerve desensitization.
Conclusions:
- Dentin hypersensitivity requires accurate diagnosis before treatment.
- Multiple therapeutic approaches exist, including covering, plugging, and desensitizing tubules.
- Over-the-counter products are available for managing dentin hypersensitivity.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Desensitization and Tachyphylaxis
Tachyphylaxis is described as a rapid decrease in response to a drug after repeated or continuous administration of the same drug dose. It is a phenomenon where the body becomes less responsive to a particular substance or intervention over time, requiring higher doses or stronger interventions to achieve the same effect. It results from adaptive changes in the body's receptors, signaling pathways, or physiological processes that occur in response to prolonged exposure to a stimulus.
Several...
Several...
01:24Local Anesthetics: Differential Sensitivity of Nerve Fibers
Local anesthetics (LAs) block the sodium channels of nerve trunks, sensory nerve endings, and neuromuscular junctions. Although LAs can block all kinds of nerves, the sensitivity of nerve fibers differs according to nerve types and structures. LAs are known to block myelinated fibers faster than unmyelinated ones. Also, they block pain or sensory neurons at low concentrations without affecting the motor neurons involved in muscle contractions. This helps relieve labor pain without affecting the...
01:25Analgesia and Pain Management
Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
01:30Hypersensitivities
Hypersensitivity, also known as a hypersensitivity reaction or allergic reaction, is a condition where the body's immune system reacts abnormally to a foreign substance. Such substances, that cause hypersensitivity are referred to as an allergen, could be something typically harmless to most people, like pollen or certain foods.
Types of Hypersensitivities
Hypersensitivity reactions are categorized into four types: Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, and Type 4. Each type has a distinct mechanism...
Types of Hypersensitivities
Hypersensitivity reactions are categorized into four types: Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, and Type 4. Each type has a distinct mechanism...
01:15Teeth
The formation of teeth, also known as odontogenesis, is a complex process that begins in utero, around the sixth week of embryonic development. There are three stages to this process: the bud stage, the cap stage, and the bell stage.
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin and...
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin and...
01:21Tooth Anatomy
The human tooth enables us to eat a variety of foods, speak clearly, and even aid in shaping our faces. Teeth are composed of various elements that work together. Here's a detailed look at the anatomy of a human tooth.
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or grinding food.
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or grinding food.