Clinical comparison between potassium nitrate and strontium chloride in decreasing hypersensitivity following resective periodontal surgery

Dentin hypersensitivity is a transient toothache with multiple external stimuli that has high prevalence in adults (about one out of every seven patients). The aim of this study is clinical comparison of the role of potassium nitrate and strontium chloride in decreasing hypersensitivity following periodontal resective surgery. Methods & Materials: Fifty one patients with tooth hypersensitivity following resective periodontal surgery participated in this study. Patients were randomly divided into 3 groups. group I: patients using Sensodyne toothpaste containing potassium nitrate, II: patients using Sensodyne toothpaste containing strontium chloride and group III: as control. ‏The patients used the dentifrices for 14 days. The severity of hypersensitivity was recorded in specific questionnaires designed for this study and verified by visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Furthermore, the severity of hypersensitivity of different teeth and the different irritants producing hypersensitivity according to gender and age were recorded. Collected data was statistically analyzed using exact Fisher and Chi-square tests. Out of 51 participants in the study there were 30 females and 21 males. No statistically significant differences were found between group I and group II (P>0.05), but there were significant differences in hypersensitivity reduction between group III with group I & II (P<0.05). Cold was the most common irritant in this study 96.2% and after that, heat with 33.3% of cases. The most common involved teeth were mandibular lateral and central incisors respectively. According to the high rate of tooth hypersensitivity following resective periodontal surgery, the use of desensitizing agents such as potassium nitrate and strontium chloride along with good oral hygiene are recommended.