Comparison of the effectiveness of three different desensitizing toothpastes in reducing dentin hypersensitivity: A 4-week clinical study

AIM: To compare the effectiveness of three different desensitizing toothpastes containing potassium salt, natural ingredients, and 8% arginine in reducing dentin hypersensitivity (DH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 4-week study was conducted on 45 adult patients suffering from hypersensitivity associated with cervical abrasion of two or more teeth anterior to the molars. Patients were divided into three toothpaste groups as follows: Group I: potassium salt, Group II: herbal desensitizing paste containing natural ingredients, and Group III: 8% arginine. Using tactile stimulus and air stimulus, the sensitivity scores were recorded using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at baseline, immediately after application, after 1 week, after 2 weeks, and after 4 weeks. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: One-way ANOVA test and post hoc Tukey's test were used, and P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Group III showed significantly better reduction in DH at all time intervals when compared with Group I. Group III was significantly better than Group II at 1, 2, and 4 weeks. CONCLUSION: Desensitizing toothpaste containing 8% arginine was found to be the most effective in the reduction of DH after a single application up to a period of 4 weeks followed by herbal desensitizing toothpaste and potassium salt-containing toothpaste.