Comparative evaluation of the effects of Nd:YAG laser and a desensitizer agent on the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity: a clinical study

Abstract

Abstract Objective: The aim of this randomized longitudinal clinical study was to assess different treatment protocols for dentin hypersensitivity with high-power laser, desensitizing agent, and its association between high-power laser and desensitizing agent, for a period of 6 months.

Background data: The literature shows a lack of treatment for dentin hypersensitivity, and lasers are contemporary alternatives.

Methods: After inclusion and exclusion analysis, volunteers were selected. The lesions were divided into three groups (n=10): G1, Gluma Desensitizer (Heraeus Kulzer); G2, Nd:YAG Laser (Power Laser(™) ST6, Lares Research®) contact mode, laser protocol of 1.5 W, 10 Hz, and 100 mJ,≈85 J/cm(2), four irradiations performed, each for 15 sec, in mesiodistal and occluso-apical directions, totaling 60 sec of irradiation with intervals of 10 sec between them; G3, Nd:YAG Laser+Gluma Desensitizer. The level of sensitivity to pain of each volunteer was analyzed by visual analog scale (VAS) using cold air stimuli and exploratory probe 5 min, 1 week, and 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment. Data were collected and subjected to statistical analysis that detected statistically significant differences between the various studied time intervals of treatments (p>0.05).

Results: For the air stimulus, no significant differences were found for each time interval. For the long-term evaluation, all groups showed statistical differences (p>0.05), indicating that for G2 and G3, this difference was statistically significant from the first time of evaluation (post 1), whereas in G1, the difference was significant from the post 2 evaluation (1 week). Comparison among groups using the probe stimulation showed significant differences in pain (p<0.001). Only in G1 and G3 did this difference become significant from post 01.

Conclusions: All protocols were effective in reducing dentinal hypersensitivity after 6 months of treatment; however, the association of Nd:YAG and Gluma Desensitizer is an effective treatment strategy that has immediate and long-lasting effects.

FIG. 1.

Representative graphics for median of pain level and standard deviations, according to the treatment used and the period of evaluation for air stimulus.

FIG. 2.

Representative graphics for median of pain level and standard deviations, according to the treatment used and the period of evaluation for probe stimulus.