[Treatment of dentin hypersensitivity by means of the Nd:YAG laser. Preliminary clinical study]

The aim of our study is to evaluate the efficiency of the Nd:YAG laser in association with graphite for the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity. 20 patients suffering of different degrees of this affection were involved. The treatment protocol was: cleaning and drying of the dentinal surfaces, evaluation of the level of pain using a graduated scale (after use of an air spray during 3 sec at a distance of 1 cm from the dentinal surfaces), the treated area was smeared with a graphite paste (graphite mixed to physiologic solution), then irradiated with the Nd:YAG laser until complete removal of the graphite (VSP Mode of 140 microsec, 0,25W, 10 Hz, 300 microm diameter fiber, fluence: 35.39 J/cm2), rinsing and drying followed by a second smearing with the graphite, second lasing, rinsing, drying and a new evaluation of the pain immediately after the treatment and one week later.

The means and standard deviations of the level of pain were 7.34 +/- 0.86 before treatment, 3.24 +/- 1.18 immediately after and 2.07 +/- 0.73 one week after. No anesthetic aspect was noticed after treatment. To conclude, our result revealed significant and immediate pain reduction with respect of aesthetics and the natural aspect of the treated teeth. Our protocol is a promising alternative to the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity.