Purpose: Dentinal hypersensitivity is a common complaint among dental patients. Recently, a novel 0.454% stabilized stannous fluoride dentifrice containing sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) was introduced that offers a desensitizing benefit. This trial was conducted to assess the desensitizing efficacy of this new dentifrice relative to a sodium fluoride control dentifrice.
Methods and material: This was a double-blind, parallel-group, randomized clinical trial conducted according to the American Dental Association (ADA) Guidelines for the Acceptance of Products for the Treatment of Dentinal Hypersensitivity. Ninety subjects who met the entrance criteria were stratified based on age, gender, and baseline sensitivity scores and randomly assigned to either the stabilized stannous fluoride + SHMP dentifrice (Crest Pro-Health) or the sodium fluoride control dentifrice. Subjects were instructed to brush twice daily for eight weeks. Efficacy assessments were made, including tactile (Yeaple probe) and thermal (Schiff Air Index) sensitivity, and an oral soft tissue examination was conducted at baseline, week four, and week eight.
Results: The mean sensitivity score based on the Schiff Air Index for the stannous fluoride + SHMP group was statistically significantly lower than that of the control group, at both weeks four and eight (P < .0001). At week eight, the stannous fluoride + SHMP dentifrice group had an adjusted mean 44% lower than that of the control group. The mean tactile sensitivity score for the stannous fluoride + SHMP group was statistically significantly higher, indicating a reduction in sensitivity, than that of the control group, at both weeks four and eight (P < .0001). At week eight, the stannous fluoride + SHMP dentifrice group had a mean desensitizing improvement of 71% greater than the control.
Conclusion: The stabilized stannous fluoride + SHMP dentifrice provided statistically significant reductions in dentinal hypersensitivity at four and eight weeks compared to the sodium fluoride control dentifrice.