Dentine hypersensitivity: Overview
![Painful ice-lolly bite](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_NZ/sensitivity/GSK_GEP_208_EN_NZ.jpg?auto=format)
Dentine hypersensitivity
Dentine hypersensitivity is a common condition that causes short, sharp pain for patients. It can arise when the dentine of the teeth becomes exposed to external stimuli (like eating and drinking) and is often prevalent in patients 20-50 years old.1
Though often a conversation with the dentist is all that’s needed, dentine hypersensitivity can be a challenge for patients to describe, making it harder for clinicians to accurately diagnose.5
Research shows that some sufferers do not perceive dentine hypersensitivity as a dental condition like cavities. They often think of it as a lifestyle inconvenience. There is an opportunity to address this in the dental office.6
In addition, some sensitivity sufferers are hesitant to try a sensitivity toothpaste as they do not understand the cause of the condition or how a toothpaste works to ease the pain.2
![2 in 5 people infographic](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_NZ/icons/GEP167_Hypersensitivity_Stat_2in5Infog_v2.png?auto=format)
Dentine hypersensitivity is a common condition1,3,4
2 in 5 New Zealanders suffer from dentine hypersensitivity.
*Ogilvy Research. Oral Care Discovery. Understanding the context of sensitive teeth. Nov 2019
Read more about dentine hypersensitivity
![Ice Lolly Icon](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_NZ/icons/GEP186_Learn_Hypersensitivity_icon_v2.png?auto=format)
Causes and mechanisms
Find out about the causes and mechanisms behind dentine hypersensitivity.
![Family Icon](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_NZ/icons/GSK_GEP_QOL_Icon.png?auto=format)
Impact on patient quality of life
Find out about the impact dentine hypersensitivity has on patients’ daily lives.
![Tooth icon](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_NZ/icons/GSK_GEP_Diagnosis_Icon.png?auto=format)
Diagnosis
Explore an overview of diagnosing dentine hypersensitivity.Find Out More
![Dentist Icon](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_NZ/icons/GSK_GEP_Management_Icon.png?auto=format)
![Sensodyne logo](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_NZ/sensitivity/GEP160_Sensodyne_logo1.jpg?auto=format)
![Patient resources icon](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_NZ/icons/GSK_GEP_Patient_Resources_Icon.png?auto=format)