Efficacy of a 3% potassium nitrate desensitizing mouthwash in the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Potassium nitrate has been used previously in a dentifrice or gel to alleviate dentinal hypersensitivity. The aim of this study was to compare a 3% potassium nitrate/0.2% sodium fluoride mouthwash with a 0.2% sodium fluoride control mouthwash in a 6-week double-blind study.

METHODS:

Fifty subjects were evaluated using 2 tactile methods and cold air sensitivity (dental air syringe), along with subjective perception of pain (0 to 10 scale) at baseline and at 2 and 6 weeks.

RESULTS:

There was a general decrease in dentinal hypersensitivity levels in both groups over the 6-week study period as demonstrated by all 4 methods of assessment. There was also a statistically significant difference in decrease in sensitivity between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study showed that a 3% potassium nitrate/0.2% sodium fluoride mouthwash appears to have therapeutic potential to alleviate dentinal hypersensitivity.

• Authors: R Pereira, V K Chava
• Journal: Journal of periodontology (J Periodontol) Vol. 72 Issue 12 Pg. 1720-5 (Dec 2001) ISSN: 0022-3492 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11811508 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Mouthwashes
• Nitrates
• Potassium Compounds
• Sodium Fluoride
• potassium nitrate

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Analysis of Variance
• Dentin Sensitivity (drug therapy)
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Humans
• Longitudinal Studies
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mouthwashes (therapeutic use)
• Nitrates (therapeutic use)
• Pain Measurement (instrumentation, methods)
• Potassium Compounds (therapeutic use)
• Sodium Fluoride (therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome