The effectiveness of a fluoride varnish and a desensitizing toothpaste in treating dentinal hypersensitivity

A desensitizing toothpaste (Sensodyne) alone and toothpaste and a fluoride varnish (Duraphat) together were tested in a controlled clinical trial to determine their effectiveness in treating dentinal hypersensitivity. Twenty-one patients were allocated into either a Control, Toothpaste-Only, or a Toothpaste-Varnish Group. After one month or the final treatment session, the Control Group demonstrated a 28 percent reduction in the mean group pain score, the Toothpaste-Only Group a 2 percent reduction, and the Toothpaste-Varnish Group a 70 percent reduction. These data indicate that professionally applied treatments with the fluoride varnish and the home use of the desensitizing toothpaste with strontium chloride are more effective than using a toothpaste alone for treating hypersensitive teeth.