Dentin Hypersensitivity and Recent Developments in Treatment Options: A Mini Review

Dentin hypersensitivity is becoming increasingly prevalent. It is mainly caused by an osmotic, tactile, chemical, thermal or evaporative stimulus which causes the movement of dental fluid within the tubules, either outwards or inwards. A sharp pain may be induced, and may hamper the daily activities of patients. The etiology of the sensitive teeth should be considered before treatment planning; following this, current options for treatment methods and related desensitizers should be tried. If desensitizers cannot relieve the pain, then restorative materials may be used to seal the dentine. Root canal therapy should be the last choice of treatment. It should be noted that sufferers may have an acidic diet or parafunctional habits which exacerbate the lesions. Therefore, patients should be encouraged to use oral hygiene products carefully, and preventive management should not be ignored. Various forms of desensitizers (toothpastes, gels, mouthwash, etc.) have certain advantages, and it is often best to use a combination of different desensitizers with treatment methods such as lasers and iontophoresis. In this minireview, treatment options described in recent studies are discussed, and the latest products used in sensitivity prevention are compared in detail, in order to facilitate the management of these painful lesions.