Pilot clinical study of a fluoride resin and conditioning paste for desensitising dentine

The clinical trial was carried out on 34 'hypersensitive' teeth in 10 subjects. Dentine sensitivity was measured as the pain perception thresholds to controlled air and probe stimuli. In each subject, pairs of teeth of comparable initial sensitivity were randomly assigned to a test (T) or control (C) treatment. All teeth were cleaned and a conditioning paste applied. Group T was treated with a topically-applied light-cured resin; Group C received a placebo, sham light-cured. Air sensitivity was remeasured after treatment, and the procedures were repeated after 1, 2, and 3 weeks. When comparing air thresholds before and after treatment at each visit, the test agent caused significantly greater reduction in sensitivity than the control. The median increase in air threshold in the test group was 2.5 s at visit no. 1, 1.3 s at visit no. 2 and 0.8 s at visit no. 3. Comparisons of the initial thresholds at each visit showed no significant long-term changes in sensitivity in either group.