Comparative evaluation of acidulated sodium fluoride gel 0.33% (iontophoresis) with hydroxy-ethyl methacrylate with glutaraldehyde as a desensitizing agent in dentinal hypersensitivity patients: A clinical study

Abstract

Background: Iontophoresis is a method of electrically transporting ionic particles into the hard and soft-tissues to achieve therapeutic benefits to manage dentinal hypersensitivity. Aim: The primary aim of the following study is to evaluate and the secondary aim is to compare the efficacy of two different desensitizing agents in moderate and severe dentinal hypersensitivity patients using acidulated sodium fluoride (NaF) gel 0.33% using iontophoretic unit and hydroxyl-ethyl methacrylate with glutaraldehyde (HEMA-G), in reducing the dentinal hypersensitivity. Materials and Methods: The hypersensitive teeth were identified by the patient and verified by the light stroke of dental explorer along the cervical area of all teeth. A total of 40 Subjects fulfilling the inclusion criteria were evaluated using stimuli. Responders were recorded with the verbal rating scale scores and divided into two groups: Group 1 (moderate dentinal hypersensitivity) and Group 2 (severe dentinal hypersensitivity). Each group was further subdivided into Subgroup A (treated with Iontophoresis) and Subgroup B (treated with 35% hydroxy-ethyl methacrylate and 5% glutaraldehyde).The teeth were evaluated after 2 weeks and 1 month from baseline. Results: The results were obtained using analysis variance and Student t-test using Graph Pad Prism 5.0 version and SPSS 17.0 version Software for Windows 7 software for Windows and was not significant, reduction in dentinal hypersensitivity was observed with both HEMA-G and Iontophoresis, with a remarkable reduction with Iontophoresis at the end of 2 weeks and 1 month. Conclusion: Desensitizing agents HEMA-G and 0.33% acidulated NaF gel, were both equally effective in causing immediate relief in dentinal hypersensitivity, but Iontophoresis (0.33% NaF) was found to be comparatively better than HEMA-G desensitizer for long-term relief.