Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the desensitizing effects of a dentifrice containing nano-carbonate apatite (n-CAP) and Er,Cr:YSGG laser in the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity.
Background data: Most studies of hypersensitivity treatment have been conducted with different methods of professional treatment and self-care in each study. Moreover, clinical studies that compare self-care and professional treatment have not yet been published.
Methods: Eighty-two patients with dentin hypersensitivity were divided randomly into three groups: (1) a control group with strontium chloride dentifrice (SC), (2) n-CAP dentifrice (n-CAP), and (3) an Er,Cr:YSGG laser (laser) group. The study was conducted for 4 weeks: a treatment period of 2 weeks and a maintenance period of 2 subsequent weeks. The SC and n-CAP groups were instructed to brush their teeth twice a day for 1 min. The laser group visited twice at 1 week intervals for irradiation of the sensitive teeth. The desensitizing effect was evaluated by assessing the tactile sensitivity using the visual analogue scale (VAS), and evaporative air sensitivity was determined using an air blast score (ABS).
Results: The n-CAP group and the laser group showed significantly different desensitizing effects in VAS after 4 weeks (69% and 63%, respectively) and a 33% (p<0.05) and 3% (p>0.05) desensitizing effect, respectively, in VAS during the maintenance period.
Conclusions: The n-CAP and the laser were effective in reducing dentin hypersensitivity. The laser had a superior desensitizing effect at the initial stage, whereas the n-CAP maintained its effect for a relatively longer time in clinical situations.