Clinical evaluation of pulp and dentine sensitivity after supragingival and subgingival scaling

The exposure of dentinal tubules by the removal of root cementum on scaling procedures has been proposed to be a source of pulp injury and to cause dentine hypersensitivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of the pulp and dentine after supragingival and subgingival scaling. Eleven patients with periodontally diseased mandibular incisors were selected. The subjects were divided into two groups according to marginal bone loss. The pulp sensitivity was evaluated by an electric pulp test. Dentine sensitivity was evaluated with two forms of controlled stimulations (probe and air-jet) and with a questionnaire. No changes in pulp sensitivity were found after scaling, but a clinically significant increase in dentine sensitivity to probe and/or air stimuli was observed in 6 patients. Five of these were also sensitive to daily life stimuli. A natural mechanism of desensitization seemed to have occurred two weeks after subgingival debridement. This study showed that supragingival and subgingival scaling might cause a more or less transient occurrence of dentine hypersensitivity.