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It seems that every patient who comes into our offices has at least a few sensitive teeth. These sensitive teeth are usually discovered early in the visit, typically when we pick up the air syringe to dry the teeth during the initial exam. His/her eyes will get real big, prompting a comment (or plea) like You are not going to blow air on my teeth, are you? They are real sensitive to air. If the patient does not actually tell us about the sensitivity, we soon discover it after blasting the teeth with air and then watch as the patient pulls the arms of our dental chair out of their moorings. But, even if the patient is real macho during the exam, the dreaded prophy will break through even the most stubborn defenses and reduce the patient to begging us not to use the torture machine, a.k.a., the ultrasonic/sonic scaler, on those sensitive areas.

While professionally applied products are still routinely used for a variety of purposes, those that are applied by the patient can offer another alternative and usually at a lower cost. In this regard, desensitizing toothpastes are the typical first type of product that is used to combat sensitivity, since toothpastes are readily available and inexpensive, and require no change in homecare routine. The desensitizing toothpaste is merely substituted for the regular version. 

If a desensitizing toothpaste is not effective in providing pain relief, then the products in this section should be seriously considered. While they can be applied with a toothbrush similar to toothpaste, the more effective technique is in a bleaching tray. And since these products are usually dispensed during a bleaching regimen that includes trays, no additional labor is necessary for the dental team.  

Bond Strength Test

Since their mechanism of action is presumably through occluding the dentinal tubules, any adhesive procedures following this treatment could be affected. To test this possibility, we applied each product onto dentin specimens in a thickness not less than 1mm. This material was covered with a glass slide and the specimens were placed in the temperature/humidity (T/H) chamber for 24 hours. The gel was then rinsed thoroughly and then the specimens were placed back into the T/H chamber for an additional 24 hours. Bond strength was then tested using an etch & rinse bonding agent. The results of these tests are in each commentary. While this is not a definitive statement on the effect of these materials on adhesive procedures, it gives you a starting point if the patient requires restorative treatment shortly after using one of these products.