Randomized clinical study on the efficacy of a new lacquer for dentine hypersensitivity

The purpose of this randomized, clinical, double-blind short-term trial was to evaluate the efficacy of a new lacquer containing a new component (phosphonic acid methacrylate) designed for treating dentine hypersensitivity. Eighty-eight patients participated in this study. At the first visit one tooth was treated with the lacquer (1), while another tooth was treated with a placebo (2). Sensitivity levels were determined before treatment as well as after one week. An air blast stimulus and a visual analogue scale were used for evaluation. At baseline, the mean hypersensitivity score of group 1 (53.2+/-26.3) was comparable to the mean hypersensitivity score of the teeth in group 2 (53.3+/-24.4). After one week, a significant reduction of the mean hypersensitivity scores (p <0.001; t-test) was revealed in group 1 (25.8 +/-26.6) as well as in group 2 (26.4+/-25.3). The difference between the two treatment groups was not significant (p = 0.7). There is either no difference between the two treatment modalities or the placebo response and/or the time effect was so strong that the treatment efficacy of the new lacquer was hidden by these effects.