Summary
Evidence-Based Dentistry (2002) 3, 11; doi:10.1038/sj/ebd/6400085
No strong evidence supports the efficacy of potassium nitrate toothpaste for dentine hypersensitivity
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
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
Lillian Carpio1
1Department of Periodontology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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.
