TREATING HYPERSENSITIVE DENTIN WITH THREE DIFFERENT POTASSIUM OXALATE- BASED GEL FORMULATIONS: A CLINICAL STUDY

ue to the high incidence of dentin hypersensitivity and diversity of treatments suggested, new products should be evaluated regarding their efficacy and applicability. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical responses of hypersensitive teeth after the application of three different potassium oxalate-based formulations. Ninety-four human canines and premolars that presented some degree of sensitivity (according to the Verbal Rating Scale) to probe and/or air stimulation were treated with either one of the three different potassium oxalate-based formulations: Oxa-Gel® (23 teeth), Experimental Solution 1 (27) and Experimental Solution 2 (27), or placebo (17) as control. The potassium oxalate-based formulations and placebo were passively applied for three minutes on wet dentin surface, the excess being removed afterwards. The degree of sensitivity was assessed before (baseline), after four applications (immediate results) as well as after 6 months and 1 year (mediate results). Data scores were submitted to Kruskal-Wallis statistical analysis and Friedman two-way ANOVA (p< 0.05). The application of all the substances, including placebo, regardless of the time period and stimuli used, resulted in an immediate statistically significant reduction in dentin hypersensitivity, which continued after 6 months and 1 year. The experimental solutions presented a statistically significant difference among themselves in reducing dentin hypersensitivity. Clinical variables may also have contributed to increase or reduce the effect of the desensitizing agents under study.