Comparison of a Novel Treatment Method for Dentin Hypersensitivity with Laser Therapy: A Clinical Study

Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is a condition characterized by sharp and short dental pains triggered by such stimulations as cold food and drinks. Different methods have been recommended for the treatment of DH; however, no consensus has been obtained in this regard. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the effect of two treatment methods, namely Nd:YAG laser and 40% propolis gel, on the improvement of DH symptoms.
This clinical comparative study was conducted on 25 patients with DH, who were selected through simple random sampling method. The sensitive teeth were treated using Nd:YAG laser on one side and propolis gel on the other side through the split-mouth design. Each patient received three treatment sessions with one week intervals and a followed-up after one month. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to assess the amount of pain before, during, and after treatment. Statistical analysis was carried out using the paired sample t-test and repeated measures ANOVA through the SPSS version 23.
According to the results, the sensitivity reduction was statistically significant in both treatment methods. The sensitive level in the laser- and propolis-treated sides decreased from 4.48 to 0.56 and 4.40 to 0.48 after one month, respectively. However, there was no significant difference between the laser- and propolis- treated groups (P>0.05).
As the findings of the present study indicated, there was no significant difference between the two applied methods regarding their effectiveness in the treatment of DH. Therefore, propolis gel can be introduced as a simple and cost-effective treatment instead of the laser technique, which is an expensive and sensitive treatment method.