BACKGROUND: The prevalence of dentin hypersensitivity is uncertain, yet appropriate diagnosis and treatment of dentin hypersensitivity require accurate knowledge regarding its prevalence. The authors conducted a study to estimate the prevalence of dentin hypersensitivity in general dental practices and to investigate associated risk factors. METHODS: The authors conducted a cross-sectional survey of 787 adult patients from 37 general dental practices within Northwest Practice-based Research Collaborative in Evidence-based DENTistry (PRECEDENT). Dentin hypersensitivity was diagnosed by means of participants' responses to a question regarding pain in their teeth and gingivae, and practitioner-investigators conducted a clinical examination to rule out alternative causes of pain. Participants recorded their pain level on a visual analog scale and the Seattle Scales in response to a one-second air blast. The authors used generalized estimating equation log-linear models to estimate the prevalence and the prevalence ratios. RESULTS: The prevalence of dentin hypersensitivity was 12.3 percent; patients with hypersensitivity had, on average, 3.5 hypersensitive teeth. The prevalence of dentin hypersensitivity was higher among 18- to 44-year olds than among participants 65 years or older; it also was higher in women than in men, in participants with gingival recession than in those without gingival recession and in participants who underwent at-home tooth whitening than in those who did not. Hypersensitivity was not associated with obvious occlusal trauma, noncarious cervical lesions or aggressive toothbrushing habits. CONCLUSIONS: One in eight participants from general practices had dentin hypersensitivity, which was a chronic condition causing intermittent, low-level pain. Patients with hypersensitivity were more likely to be younger, to be female and to have a high prevalence of gingival recession and at-home tooth whitening. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Given dentin hypersensitivity's prevalence, clinicians should diagnose it only after investigating all other possible sources of pain.
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of dentin hypersensitivity is uncertain, yet appropriate diagnosis and treatment of dentin hypersensitivity require accurate knowledge regarding its prevalence. The authors conducted a study to estimate the prevalence of dentin hypersensitivity in general dental practices and to investigate associated risk factors. METHODS: The authors conducted a cross-sectional survey of 787 adult patients from 37 general dental practices within Northwest Practice-based Research Collaborative in Evidence-based DENTistry (PRECEDENT). Dentin hypersensitivity was diagnosed by means of participants' responses to a question regarding pain in their teeth and gingivae, and practitioner-investigators conducted a clinical examination to rule out alternative causes of pain. Participants recorded their pain level on a visual analog scale and the Seattle Scales in response to a one-second air blast. The authors used generalized estimating equation log-linear models to estimate the prevalence and the prevalence ratios. RESULTS: The prevalence of dentin hypersensitivity was 12.3 percent; patients with hypersensitivity had, on average, 3.5 hypersensitive teeth. The prevalence of dentin hypersensitivity was higher among 18- to 44-year olds than among participants 65 years or older; it also was higher in women than in men, in participants with gingival recession than in those without gingival recession and in participants who underwent at-home tooth whitening than in those who did not. Hypersensitivity was not associated with obvious occlusal trauma, noncarious cervical lesions or aggressive toothbrushing habits. CONCLUSIONS: One in eight participants from general practices had dentin hypersensitivity, which was a chronic condition causing intermittent, low-level pain. Patients with hypersensitivity were more likely to be younger, to be female and to have a high prevalence of gingival recession and at-home tooth whitening. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Given dentin hypersensitivity's prevalence, clinicians should diagnose it only after investigating all other possible sources of pain.
Authors: M W Heft; M S Litaker; D T Kopycka-Kedzierawski; C Meyerowitz; S Chonowski; R L Yardic; V V Gordan; R Mungia; G H Gilbert Journal: JDR Clin Trans Res Date: 2017-11-13
Authors: Dorota T Kopycka-Kedzierawski; Cyril Meyerowitz; Mark S Litaker; Marc W Heft; Nirmala Tasgaonkar; Marianne R Day; Andretta Porter-Williams; Valeria V Gordan; Robin L Yardic; Timothy M Lawhorn; Gregg H Gilbert Journal: J Am Dent Assoc Date: 2017-06-16 Impact factor: 3.634
Authors: Ellen Funkhouser; Jack L Ferracane; Thomas J Hilton; Valeria V Gordan; Gregg H Gilbert; Rahma Mungia; Vanessa Burton; Cyril Meyerowitz; Dorota T Kopycka-Kedzierawski Journal: J Dent Date: 2022-02-25 Impact factor: 4.379