Background:Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is an age old complaint with a great number of treatment modalities, but none of these are totally effective till date. Lasers being one of the latest treatment options in periodontics, a study was conducted to test the efficacy of diode laser (DL) in DH alone and in comparison with 5% sodium fluoride (NaF) varnish.Aim:The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of 5% topical NaF varnish and 980 nm gallium aluminum arsenide (GaAlAs) DL alone and combination of 5% NaF + 980 nm GaAlAs DL in the management of DH.Materials and Methods:The study was conducted on 120 teeth in thirty patients with DH assessed by tactile and air blast (AB) stimuli measured by visual analog scale (VAS). Teeth were randomly divided into Group 1 (P) placebo-treated control group, Group 2 (NaF) treated by 5% NaF varnish, Group 3 (DL) treated with 980 nm DL, and Group 4 (NaF + DL) treated with both 5% NaF varnish and 980 nm DL (combination group).Results:There was a significant reduction in DH. The VAS reduction percentages were calculated, and there was a significant decrease in DH above all in G4 (NaF + DL) than G3 (DL) and G2 (NaF).Conclusion:Even though all the three groups (2, 3, and 4) showed improvement in terms of DH reduction, 5% NaF varnish with DL showed the best results among all the groups.

Background: Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is one of the effectual cariostatic agents widely used in minimal intervention dentistry. However, the major drawback of SDF is dark staining after its application. Aim: In the present study, the staining of 38% SDF alone and 38% SDF and potassium iodide (KI) was compared after restoration with glass-ionomer cement (GIC) and resin composite using ImageJ software. Methods and Material: Forty extracted carious primary teeth were sorted into four groups. In Group I and II, SDF was applied and restored with GIC and composite restorations, respectively. In Group III and IV, SDF application was followed by KI and restored with GIC and composite restorations, respectively. Images were captured after initial applications on day 1 and day 14 after restoration. The captured images were imported to ImageJ software and mean gray values were calculated. Statistical Analysis: The mean gray values obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using paired t-test and independent sample t-test. There was statistically significant if P < 0.05. Results: Following the application of SDF and RIVA STAR, the baseline mean gray values showed no statistical significance. On day 1, the mean gray values were highest in Group IV (208.30) and lowest in Group I (178.51). Similarly, on day 14, the highest mean gray values were observed in Group IV (208.45) and lowest in Group I (147.6) which were statistically significant. Conclusions: The restorations after SDF application attained dark stain eventually, whereas with the application of SDF followed by KI (RIVA STAR), the restorations showed the least staining.

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