Dentine hypersensitivity: Management

Managing dentine hypersensitivity

Here we discuss different approaches for managing dentine hypersensitivity, including the consensus recommendations from the Canadian Advisory Board on dentine hypersensitivity, 2003.

Steps for managing dentine hypersensitivity

IDENTIFY

Screen for dentine hypersensitivity and confirm with a differential diagnosis

EDUCATE

Increase patient awareness of the causes of dentine hypersensitivity
Advise on lifestyle changes they can make to successfully manage the condition

RECOMMEND

Along with appropriate advice, recommend or provide treatments to suit the individual needs of your patient

Educating your patients

Patients should be educated on how to manage their dentine hypersensitivity through changes in lifestyle and daily oral hygiene habits. Recommendations could include:¹

Avoid aggressive toothbrushing
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and sensitivity toothpaste, twice daily
Schedule regular dental appointments

Maintaining good oral hygiene is important for patients with dentine hypersensitivity.

Download a patient poster on general tooth-brushing advice.

Sensitivity toothpastes can have different mechanisms of action^2,3

Occlusion

Dentine tubule occlusion

Toothpaste formulations that form a robust layer over and within dentine tubules.

Active ingredient example: calcium sodium phosphosilicate (NovaMin).

Read more about NovaMin.

Read more about strontium acetate.
Desensitisation

Nerve desensitisation

The active ingredient in toothpaste formulation decreases nerve excitability

Active ingredient example: potassium nitrate

Read more about potassium nitrate

Recurring dentine hypersensitivity and patient follow-up

Canadian Advisory Board guidelines for effective long-term management of dentine hypersensitivity recommend reassessing patients’ experience of pain at subsequent appointments. If they still experience dentine hypersensitivity pain they should be followed up and reviewed.²