Nowadays dentine hypersensitivity is a commonly occurring dental disease among the population which poses a great challenge for the professional team. Typical symptoms are short, but very sharp sensations of pain, which can last from a few seconds to up to one minute. The temporary pains occur when uncovered areas of dentine are exposed to various stimuli e.g. evaporative (air), thermal (temperature), tactile (contact), osmotic (physical) or chemical stimuli.
The so-called “hydrodynamic theory” of the Swedish researcher Brännström (1963) is nowadays accepted as the main mechanism of dentine hypersensitivity, although other theories are the subject of discussion as well. The hydrodynamic theory is based on the movement of fluid in the dentine canals, which results in pressure changes, which activates the nerve fibres at the end of the dentine tubules via “mechano-receptors”. A prerequisite for this is the presence of dentine canals which are open at both ends, both to the pulp and also to the dentine surfaces. Closing the dentine canals reduces dentine hypersensitivity and is the ultimate aim of all preventive and conservative treatment.
Estimates of the numbers affected by dentine hypersensitivity vary greatly; between 15 and 60 percent of patients suffer from it. The percentage of self-reported cases is higher than when diagnosed by the dentist, and is higher in women than in men. The increase in dentine hypersensitivity is also linked with over-intensive oral hygiene. |
