Clinical effectiveness of a desensitizing system on dentin hypersensitivity in periodontitis patients

To evaluate the efficacy of the DenShield desensitizing system, based on calcium sodium phosphosilicate, in the hypersensitivity reduction for a 6-month period in periodontitis patients previously subjected to periodontal treatment and to compare the combination of the in-office paste and at-home dentifrice use to the at-home dentifrice use alone.

A total of 248 teeth (eight teeth in each subject) in 31 periodontitis patients (mean age 48 +/- 8 years) previously subjected to periodontal treatment were studied. 193 (77.8%) teeth had been treated with phase I periodontal treatment alone (non-surgical treatment) and 55 (22.2%) had been additionally subjected to periodontal surgery. Periodontal clinical parameters were recorded for each subject. Hypersensitivity was assessed by tactile and air-blast stimuli. The hypersensitive teeth of each of two quadrants in each subject were randomly assigned with split-mouth design to in-office application of DenShield Starter paste (four teeth) or placebo (distilled water) (four teeth). After the in-office application each patient used the DenShield dentifrices (Builder and Saver) for 6 months. The final evaluation was at 6 months.

The prevalence and the degree of baseline hypersensitivity was significantly higher for the surgically than the non-surgically-treated teeth (83.6% versus 68.4%) and it was greater in teeth with attachment loss. The dentin hypersensitivity observed after periodontal treatment was significantly reduced in periodontitis patients who used the DenShield system for 6 months. There was no difference in hypersensitivity reduction between the additional in-office application of the DenShield and the at-home use of the DenShield dentifrices alone.