Prevalence and predictive factors of dentin hypersensitivity in Brazilian adolescents

To measure the prevalence of dentin hypersensitivity (DH) in adolescents.

The diagnosis was based on self-report and was confirmed by tactile and evaporative tests. The association between DH and predictor factors was determined using a multivariate model. The sample consisted of 384 adolescents.

The prevalence was 19.0%. DH prevalence to tactile stimulus was higher in those participants whose toothbrush movement was vertical/horizontal (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.47-0.60, p < 0.001), in the presence of dental biofilm (OR = 2.45, 95% CI = 1.94-3.09, p < 0.001), of non-carious cervical lesion (OR = 2.76, 95% CI = 2.40-3.18, p < 0.001), of gingival recession (OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.44-1.86, p < 0.001) and gyroversion (OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.40-1.82; p < 0.001). When DH was diagnosed by evaporative stimulus, there was an association with brush movement in a vertical/horizontal direction (OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.66-0.82, p < 0.001), with the use of mouthwash solutions (OR = 2.65, 95% CI = 2.16-3.25, p < 0.001), in the presence of non-carious cervical lesion (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.57-1.96, p < 0.001), of gyroversion (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.51-1.90, p < 0.001) and gingival recession (OR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.59-1.99, p < 0.001).

The prevalence of DH in the sample was worrying, since almost 1 in 5 adolescents had DH. Individuals with DH were more likely to report traumatic dental brushing, and presence of dental biofilm, non-carious cervical lesion, gingival recession and gyroversion in the affected teeth.