Effectiveness of Diode Laser in theTreatment of Dentine Hypersensitivity in Comparison with Desensitizing 5% Potassium Nitrate Gel

Abstract

Background: The acute, non-spontaneous, short- or long-lasting nature of pain due to hypersensitivity that appears suddenly on stimulation warrants a therapeutic mode which would bring about a significantly greater, immediate reduction of dentinal hypersensitivity. Lasers may now provide reliable and reproducible treatment for this condition. Objectives:the present study aimedto assess the immediate and long-term efficacy of diode laser in the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivityand to compare the efficacy of diode laser and 5% potassium nitrate gels in the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity. Subjects and methods:eighteenteeth diagnosed with dentine hypersensitivity were included in this split mouth study, and teeth were randomly divided equally into two groups: group A, which received treatment with GaAlAs (diode) laser, andgroup B, treated with desensitizer 5% potassium nitrate gel. DH was assessed by means of an air stimulus, and a visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to measure DH. The selected teeth in group A received laser therapy for one session. teeth subjected to diode-laser treatment were irradiated at 100 mW for 25 sec at 810 nm, with continuous-emission, noncontact mode, perpendicular to the surface, with scanning movements on the region of exposed root surfaces Results:immediately. after the laser was applied, we observed an overall reduction in theresponse to air blast of 44.9% (mean 3.00, SD1.732) in group A, three times greater than that observed in the group B, which was 17.5% (mean 1.11, SD 0.928), after 10 days the reduction in VAS in the laser group was 58.3% (mean 3.89, SD1.616) which was more than the reduction in VAS observed in 5% potassium nitrate gel group which was 36.8%(mean 2.33, SD 1.871). both groups showed significant decrease between baseline and 10 days with pronouns effect on group A Conclusions:A reduction of DH was recorded immediately and after 10 days in both groups(A and B), better results were noted in group A whencompared to group B.