The effectiveness of sodium fluoride treatment with and without iontophoresis on the reduction of hypersensitive dentin.

The effectiveness of topical sodium fluoride applied with and without iontophoresis was compared in patients complaining of tooth hypersensitivity. Reduction of sensitivity to cold and mechanical stimuli was evaluated during a period of 8 months by pain scoring in the exposed cervical dentin of homologous teeth on the two sides of the jaws. There was a significant decrease in the sensitivity of the exposed cervical dentin after treatment with sodium fluoride solution, with or without iontophoresis, during the whole experimental period. There was no striking difference between the two forms of treatment with respect to the reduction of sensitivity to mechanical and cold stimuli.