Impact of Sensitive Teeth Pain on Patients

Patients with dentine hypersensitivity triggers

Uncovering the impact of dentine hypersensitivity on daily life

Dentine hypersensitivity is a common dental problem. Many of those who experience the short, sharp pain associated with the condition may go to great lengths to avoid their triggers. Here we look at the effect dentine hypersensitivity can have on daily life and the coping-mechanisms people adopt.

The Dentine Hypersensitivity Experience Questionnaire

To understand the impact of dentine hypersensitivity on quality of life, a team from the School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, UK, in collaboration with GSK, developed the Dentine Hypersensitivity Experience Questionnaire (DHEQ).1

Both qualitative and quantitative development and validation in a general population have shown that the DHEQ exhibits good psychometric properties. Its use can further the understanding of subjective impacts of dentine hypersensitivity on quality of life.1

The DHEQ explores how quality of life is affected by dentine hypersensitivity, such as its impact on patients’ daily activities or emotional wellbeing.1

DHEQ results from six clinical trials in over 800 dentine hypersensitivity sufferers show the wide-ranging impact of dentine hypersensitivity on everyday life2,3

Restrictions to eating and drinking

47% of dentine hypersensitivity patients/sufferers feel going to the dentist is difficult because of painful sensations.

Social impact on eating and drinking

89% of dentine hypersensitivity patients/sufferers feel the sensations have been annoying

Coping mechanisms

90% of dentine hypersensitivity patients/sufferers have problems eating ice cream

Sensodyne – the world’s leading sensitivity toothpaste

Tooth with magnifying glass icon

Diagnosis

Explore an overview of diagnosing dentine hypersensitivity.

Find out more

Corega logo

Corega Overview

Explore an overview of Corega.

Find out more

Tooth Icon

Dentine hypersensitivity

Find out more about dentine hypersensitivity.

Find out more

Ice Lolly Icon

Causes and mechanisms

Find out about the causes and mechanisms behind dentine hypersensitivity.

Find out more

Sensodyne logo

The Sensodyne range

Find out how the Sensodyne range can help your patients.

Find out more

Patient resources icon

Patient care resources

Download resources for your patients.

Find out more