Clinical efficacy of desensitizing mouthwashes for the control of dentin hypersensitivity and root sensitivity: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the scientific evidence on the efficacy of desensitizing mouthwashes for the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity (DH) and root sensitivity (RS).

Material and methods: A thorough search in MEDLINE, PubMed and Cochrane Plus Library was conducted up to February 2015. Randomized clinical trials, parallel, double-blinded and placebo-controlled, with a follow-up of at least 6 weeks, reporting changes on response to tactile stimuli, thermal/evaporative stimuli or patients' subjective assessment of the pain experienced during their daily life after the home use of desensitizing mouthwashes were considered for inclusion.

Results: The screening of titles and abstracts resulted in seven publications meeting the eligibility criteria. The desensitizing agents evaluated were potassium nitrate (n = 5), aluminium lactate (n = 1) and sodium fluoride (n = 1). A meta-analysis for each of the hypersensitivity stimuli was performed. Results demonstrated statistically significant reduction in sensitivity scores favouring test group when DH was assessed by means of patients' self-reported pain experience (SMD at 8 weeks = 0.77; 95% CI [0.23; 1.31]; P = 0.005). No significant effects were detected in response to tactile or thermal/evaporative stimuli. Meta-regression analysis demonstrated a tendency towards an increased effect favouring test group for the patients' subjective perception, whereas tactile and thermal/evaporative stimuli showed a slight tendency towards a reduction in the efficacy of the test mouthwash.

Conclusions: There exists a tendency towards a decrease in DH or RS scores with time in both treatment groups, with significant differences in favour of test group when sensitivity is evaluated in terms of patients' self-reported sensitivity symptoms.

Keywords: dentin hypersensitivity; desensitizing mouthwash; efficacy; meta-analysis; root sensitivity; systematic review.