Dentinal Hypersensitivity: Relationship to General Sensory Sensitivity

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to assess the differences in general sensory sensitivity among groups with self-reported and/or clinically demonstrated dentinal hypersensitivity (DH) (either users or non-users of KNO₃ toothpaste) and a population with no complaint of tooth sensitivity (NS). METHODS: Subjects were in good oral and general health, were not suffering from chronic conditions requiring regular use of analgesics and were not currently taking daily doses of medications that could influence the perception of pain. DH-users had ≥4 clinically evaluable teeth exhibiting erosion, abrasion or recession. DH-non-users had ≥4 teeth scored ≥30mm on a 100mm visual analogue scale in response to air stimulation and ≥2 teeth with Yeaple Probe tactile thresholds ≤30g. NS subject had no complaint of sensitive teeth, ≥20 natural teeth and ≥4 premolars. Subjects responded to four statements (″I am very sensitive to (1) sounds, (2) odors, (3) spicy foods,″ ″(4) I find injections and having blood taken very painful″) on a balanced, 4-point, degree-of-agreement scale. RESULTS: DH users and non-users did not differ in their response to the four statements or in the total score (p>0.19). The three groups differed in their responses to each statement and in the total score (p<0.05). The total scores on a 4-16 scale, where lower scores indicate greater agreement and 10 is the neutral point, were (mean±std): DH-users (9.36±2.17, n=15), DH-non-users (9.13±2.28, n=16), NS (11.77±2.71, n=100). On each individual question, the majority of the DH subjects ″agreed″ and the majority of the NS subjects ″disagreed.″ CONCLUSION: The groups suffering from DH express a higher degree of sensitivity to sounds, odors, tastes and needle punctures than the NS group. While this self-perception has relatively low reliability as a predictor of DH, it does suggest an underlying difference in physiological response to all sensory stimuli. Supported by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Health.