Abstract
Objective: To compare the effectiveness of potassium nitrate-containing toothpaste with placebo toothpaste in reducing dentine hypersensitivity.
Data sources: Medline, EMBASE, Elsevier Biobase, Biosis Previews, Cab Health, SCI Search, Current Contents until 1 April 2000, the Cochrane Oral Health Group Trials Register, and bibliographies of identified studies and reviews.
Study selection: Randomised clinical trials (RCT).
Data extraction and synthesis: Two reviewers independently recorded the results of the trials included using a specially designed chart. Sensitivity was assessed by using thermal, tactile, air-blast and subjective methods. All RCT included had Jadad scores ranging from 3 to 4.
Results: Eight studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria; four studies did not present mean and standard deviations and so were not included in the meta-analysis. Three of these did not show an effect on any of the measurements of dentine hypersensitivity, while one did. The meta-analysis showed a statistically-significant effect of potassium nitrate toothpaste on air-blast and tactile sensitivity. The subjective assessment failed to show a significant effect at the 6- to 8-week assessment (see Table 1).
Conclusions: There is no strong evidence available that supports the efficacy of potassium nitrate toothpaste for dentine hypersensitivity.
Poulsen S, Errboe M, Hovgaard O, Worthington HW. Potassium nitrate toothpaste for dentine hypersensitivity (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 2, 2001. Oxford: Update Software
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Address for reprints: Professor Sven Poulsen, Head of Department, Department of Community Oral Health and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Aarhus, 9 Vennelyst Boulevard, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. E-mail: spoulsen@odont.au.dk
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Carpio, L. No strong evidence supports the efficacy of potassium nitrate toothpaste for dentine hypersensitivity. Evid Based Dent 3, 11 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ebd.6400085
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ebd.6400085