Clinical evaluation of 4% sodium fluoride and gallium/aluminium/arsenide low-intensity laser effect on dentinal hypersensitivity

Abstract

The aim of this in vivo study was to compare the efficacy of 4% sodium fluoride use with that of a Gallium/ Aluminium/Arsenide (GaAlAs) low –intensity laser in the treatment of cervical dentinal hypersensitivity (CDH). 103 teeth with a diagnosis of CDH were randomly assigned in two groups (I and II respectively). In Group I, 4% sodium fluoride was applied to the cervical region of facial teeth surfaces during 4 minutes. Analogous areas of Group II teeth were punctually irradiated with a low–intensity AsGa- Al diode (wavelength 830nm, power output 100mW) and dosimetry of 4j/cm2. Both treatment modalities were performed three times in separate sessions with intervals of either 48 or 72 hours. The degree of hypersensitivity was assessed at baseline, immediately after each treatment session and at day 30 post-treatment. Immediately after each treatment session there were no significant differences between both groups. Evaluation at the one-month followup timepoint revealed that in group I there was a 43% decrease in the level of hypersensitivity, following tactile stimuli and a 51.4% decline, following thermal/evaporative stimuli. Similarly, in group II, reductions of 52.7% and 55.2% were observed respectively following identical stimuli. Statistical analyses of the data indicate that there were no significant differences between the two therapies regarding to the reduction of CDH either immediately after each treatment session or at the one-month follow-up timepoint (p > 0,05). Both therapies were effective in reducing CDH, with no significant differences between the two forms of treatment evaluated. Key words: Fluorides. Sodium fluoride. Dentin sensitivity. Lasers.