Thresholds of hypersensitive teeth to 2 forms of control led stimulation

Abstract

2 new methods are described for measuring the sensitivity of dentine to mechanical (probe) and cold-air stimulation. The methods are suitable for clinical use and could be used in the evaluation of desensitising treatments. In addition to qualitative differences in the pattern of sensitivity of teeth to these stimuli, considerable variation was observed in the distribution of pain thresholds to probe and air stimulation. Thresholds were not significantly affected by the age or sex of the subjects, but mean thresholds of teeth sensitive to only one stimulus were significantly greater than thresholds of teeth sensitive to both stimuli; these differences were most marked in female subjects. Factors such as the qualitative differences in sensitivity to various stimuli and quantitative differences in the degree of sensitivity to the stimuli require to be considered in clinical evaluation of desensitizing treatments.

How valid and applicable are current diagnostic criteria and assessment methods for dentin hypersensitivity? An overview

“…In case of dentin hypersensitivity, two different assessment methodologies are described. Dentin hypersensitivity might either be evaluated in terms of a stimulus intensity required to provoke pain (stimulus-based assessment) or as a subjective evaluation of the pain produced by a defined stimulus (response-based assessment) [30, 33, 68]. Characteristic for all stimulus-based methods is the measurement of an individual pain threshold.…”

“…Furthermore, these methods could be judged as acceptable if the used stimulation method is accepted as scientifically valid [30]. As mentioned above, several stimuli could induce dentinal pain, but not all are suited for quantifying dentin hypersensitivity in clinical practice [30, 68]. Tactile, cold, and evaporative air stimuli are physiological and easy controllable.…”

“…Therefore, these stimuli are mostly used and widely recommended in various publications [69–71]. The value of other stimulation methods like the use of electrical stimuli is discussed controversially and often needs a special device with increasing costs [68]. It is important to address that recorded dentin hypersensitivity may be different for different stimuli [68, 72].…”

“…The value of other stimulation methods like the use of electrical stimuli is discussed controversially and often needs a special device with increasing costs [68]. It is important to address that recorded dentin hypersensitivity may be different for different stimuli [68, 72]. Therefore, it is recommended that at least two different hydrodynamic stimuli should be used [5].…”

Effect of HeNe and pulsed Nd:YAG laser irradiation on intradental nerve responses to mechanical stimulation of dentine

“…The mechanism of this desensitising effect is not certain, and the present experiments aimed to investigate how lasing might affect the sensitivity of laser-irradiated dentine to physiological stimulation. A mechanical stimulus was chosen because (1) this is a significant cause of pain amongst patients with "hypersensitive" dentine [19], (2) such stimuli are often used in the evaluation of desensitising treatments [2,3,20,21], and (3) this mode of stimulation is suitable for use with this experimental system [22].…”