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Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Abstract

Background : The study of dentine hypersensitivity and predisposing factorsmay help decrease dentine hypersensitivity and supporttreatments in patients.Objectives : To investigate possible factors of dentine hypersensitivity amongThai patients visiting King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.Design : A cross-sectional descriptive study.Setting : King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.Materials and Methods : Sixty-eight patients were recruited and evaluated to confirmthat they were suffering from dentine hypersensitivity dueto gingival recession or cervical erosion. Patients withhypersensitivity from other factors were excluded. Hypersensitivitywas measured by using cold water and tactile stimuli and avisual analog scale (VAS). Accepted VAS score was 3 to 10.Details of each patient were collected via a questionnaire.Patients were also measured any buccal gingival recession. Datawere analyzed by descriptive statistics.Results : Subjects’ ages ranged from 26 to 70 years (mean ± SD =45.9 ± 9.5). The highest number of patients with dentinehypersensitivity belonged to the group of 41 - 50 years.Females elicited a higher prevalence of dentine hypersensitiveteeth. Most sensitive teeth were the premolars and first molars.Overall mean of sensitive teeth per patient was 4.1. Mode ofduration belonged to the 0 - 0.5 year group. Mean amount ofgingival recession was 1.3 mm. Major stimuli causinghypersensitivity were cold drinks, sour food, and improper toothbrushing. The least cause was hot drinks. High fiber food, sourfood, and sour fruit were most associated with sensitive teeth,and to a lesser extent were hard food and sticky food. Impropertooth brushing methods (scrubbing, up and down brushing) werealso related to dentine hypersensitivity. We found statisticallysignificant relationship between VAS score and the sour food.No statistically significant relationship between VAS score andfood type or brushing method were found.Conclusion : Most patients with dentine hypersensitivity were 41 - 50 yearsold. The premolars and molars are the most sensitive teeth tostimuli. The presence and history of dentine hypersensitivity areassociated with patients’ diet and tooth brushing method.

Publisher

Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University

First Page

175

Last Page

186

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