Effect of a nano-hydroxyapatite paste on bleaching-related tooth sensitivity

Area of Science:

• Dental materials science
• Biomaterials engineering

Background:

• Tooth enamel defects can exacerbate bleaching-related sensitivity.
• Nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HAP) shows potential for repairing enamel defects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of an n-HAP paste in mitigating tooth sensitivity during a bleaching procedure.
• To assess the impact of n-HAP on the incidence, duration, and intensity of bleaching-induced tooth sensitivity.

Main Methods:

• A randomized clinical trial involving 42 participants comparing an n-HAP paste with a placebo (zero-HAP).
• Participants used a 7% hydrogen peroxide gel twice daily for 14 days, followed by the assigned desensitizer.
• Tooth sensitivity was recorded daily for 4 weeks using a visual analog scale (VAS).

Main Results:

• A lower percentage of participants using n-HAP reported tooth sensitivity (29% vs. 51%).
• The n-HAP group experienced significantly fewer days of sensitivity (36 vs. 76 days; p=0.001).
• While not statistically significant, the n-HAP group showed a trend towards lower VAS scores for sensitivity intensity.

Conclusions:

• The n-HAP paste demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the number of days participants experienced tooth sensitivity during bleaching.
• The findings suggest n-HAP paste is an effective adjunct for reducing the duration of tooth sensitivity in patients undergoing tooth whitening.
• The study highlights the clinical relevance of n-HAP in managing common side effects of dental bleaching procedures.