Scientific Article Review:

Reducing Dentine Hypersensitivity with Nano-Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste

Published In: Clinical Oral Investigations
Publication Year: 2018

Study Design

This study was a double-blind randomized controlled trial conducted at a single site, designed to compare the efficacy of nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HAp) toothpaste with fluoride and placebo groups for reducing dentine hypersensitivity​​.

Funding Sources

The study does not mention specific funding sources​.

PICO Framework - what was studied and how?

Population:
Adults aged 20–70 years with hypersensitive teeth (minimum of two hypersensitive teeth confirmed via tactile and airblast sensitivity tests).

Intervention:
Application of nano-hydroxyapatite (2%) gel toothpaste twice daily for four weeks.

Comparison:
Fluoride toothpaste (positive control group) and placebo toothpaste.

Outcomes:
Reduction in dentine hypersensitivity measured using:

• Tactile sensitivity scores.
• Airblast sensitivity scores.
• Subjective Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain ratings.

Paragraph Form:
This study examined adults aged 20–70 with hypersensitive teeth to evaluate the efficacy of a nano-hydroxyapatite (2%) gel toothpaste in reducing dentine hypersensitivity. Outcomes were compared to those using a fluoride toothpaste and a placebo toothpaste, measuring improvements in tactile and airblast sensitivity, as well as subjective pain ratings on a Visual Analogue Scale​​​.

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults aged 20–70 years with hypersensitive teeth (at least two teeth scoring ≥2 on tactile and airblast sensitivity tests).
• Good periodontal health (no probing depth >4 mm).
• Good overall physical health.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Chipped teeth, defective restorations, or orthodontic appliances.
• Periodontal surgery in the last six months.
• Use of analgesic or anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Pregnancy, lactation, smoking, or substance abuse​​.

Demographics and Study Design

• Subjects: 105 adults (65 females, 40 males).
• Cohorts:
  • Nano-hydroxyapatite group: 35 participants.
  • Fluoride group: 35 participants.
  • Placebo group: 35 participants.

Subjects used the assigned toothpaste twice daily for four weeks. All groups were balanced with no significant differences in baseline values​​​.

Primary Outcome Variables and Results

Results Summary:

• Tactile Sensitivity: Reduced from a baseline of 3.17 to 1.98 and 1.83 at 2 and 4 weeks in the experimental group (p < 0.05).
• Airblast Sensitivity: Decreased from a baseline of 2.97 to 1.72 and 1.64 at 2 and 4 weeks in the experimental group (p < 0.05).
• VAS Scores: Showed significant reductions in the experimental group at 2 and 4 weeks compared to baseline (p < 0.05)​​​.

Conclusions

The study concluded that nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste significantly reduced dentine hypersensitivity compared to fluoride and placebo toothpaste. Reductions were seen as early as two weeks and maintained through four weeks​​.

Discussion

Strengths:

• Use of validated clinical measures (e.g., tactile and airblast tests, VAS).
• Double-blind design minimized bias.

Limitations:

• Study duration limited to four weeks; long-term effects remain unstudied.
• Single-site design may limit generalizability​.

Citation

Milia E, et al. Reducing dentine hypersensitivity with nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste: A double-blind randomized controlled trial. Clin Oral Invest. 2018;22:313–320. PubMed