Efficacy of Gluma Desensitizer® on dentin hypersensitivity in periodontally treated patients

Abstract

The aim of this double-blind, controlled, split-mouth designed clinical trial was to assess the effect of a single application of Gluma Desensitizer on alleviating dentin hypersensitivity. Twelve subjects entered the study and ten completed the protocol. Each subject had two teeth treated: one with Gluma Desensitizer according to the manufacturer's instructions and one with water. The assessment of pain was performed with the VAS (Visual Analogue Scale), after tactile (probe), thermal (cold blast of water) and thermal/evaporative (cold blast of air) stimuli at baseline, immediately after treatment, after 1 week and after 4 weeks. The mean VAS values for the test and control teeth were compared by the paired t test (alpha = 0.05). Repeated measurements ANOVA was used to compare the different experimental times. The results showed that for test teeth, at baseline, mean VAS values were 1.76 (+/- 2.82), 7.10 (+/- 2.10) and 4.75 (+/- 2.65), and, after 4 weeks, the mean values were 1.70 (+/- 2.31), 5.50 (+/- 3.30) and 4.61 (+/- 3.14), respectively for probe, water and air stimuli. For the control teeth, at baseline, the mean VAS values were 1.86 (+/- 2.92), 6.61 (+/- 2.31) and 4.08 (+/- 2.91) and, after 4 weeks, 2.66 (+/- 3.07), 6.32 (+/- 2.94) e 4.76 (+/- 3.26). There were no statistically significant differences between test and control teeth at any time. No intra-group differences were demonstrated either. It was concluded that Gluma Desensitizer had no effect on hypersensitive teeth from periodontally treated patients for a period up to 4 weeks.