Title It Is Unclear Whether Desensitizing Toothpastes Containing Stannous Fluoride Cause a Greater Reduction in Hypersensitivity Compared to Toothpaste Containing Potassium Nitrate Following Bleaching Treatment
Clinical Question In an otherwise healthy patient with tooth sensitivity, will application of a desensitizing agent containing stannous fluoride cause greater reduction in sensitivity after bleaching compared to a desensitizing agent containing potassium nitrate?
Clinical Bottom Line In patients with dentin hypersensitivity who are undergoing bleaching treatment, it is unclear if desensitizing agents containing stannous fluoride are more effective in reducing hypersensitivity than those containing potassium nitrate.
Best Evidence  
PubMed ID Author / Year Patient Group Study type
(level of evidence)
22051246West/201128 Healthy volunteersin situ Randomized Controlled Trial
Key resultsA toothpaste containing stannous fluoride with a relative dentin abrasivity (RDA) value of 120 is more abrasive than a toothpaste containing potassium nitrate with an RDA value of 70. This higher RDA value causes the stannous fluoride containing paste to contribute significantly more to dentin erosion than the potassium nitrate containing paste (p < 0.0001).
Evidence Search
Comments on
The Evidence
Applicability While there are no studies available that directly compare the efficacy of toothpastes containing stannous fluoride and those containing potassium nitrate based on their desensitizing characteristics in patients undergoing bleaching treatment, both are popular active ingredients in sensitivity toothpastes and could be considered for these patients.
Specialty (General Dentistry) (Dental Hygiene)
Keywords Bleaching, dentin hypersensitivity, stannous fluoride, potassium nitrate
ID# 2636
Date of submission 03/17/2014
E-mail sura@uthscsa.edu
Author Brenna Sura
Co-author(s)
Co-author(s) e-mail
Faculty mentor David Cox, DDS
Faculty mentor e-mail coxd@uthscsa.edu
   
Basic Science Rationale
(Mechanisms that may account for and/or explain the clinical question, i.e. is the answer to the clinical question consistent with basic biological, physical and/or behavioral science principles, laws and research?)
None available
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Comments and Evidence-Based Updates on the CAT
(FOR PRACTICING DENTISTS', FACULTY, RESIDENTS and/or STUDENTS COMMENTS ON PUBLISHED CATs)
None available