Comparison of two different forms of varnishes in the treatment of dentine hypersensitivity: A subject-blind clinical study in Lagos State university teaching hospital

Background: Dentine hypersensitivity is a significant clinical problem affecting several age groups within a population. Aim: This subject-blind randomized clinical study was designed to determine the clinical outcomes of two different varnishes in the management of dentine hypersensitivity. Materials and Methods: Self-reporting, consenting patients (n = 56) referred to the restorative unit of the dental center, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), were examined for dentine hypersensitivity using the air jet and tactile probe methods. Enlisted patients were randomly assigned into Duraphat or Cervitec Plus varnish groups in a split-mouth study design. The teeth were assessed for sensitivity, and this procedure was repeated on week(s) 1, 2, and 4 following the initial visit. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 20, and statistical significance was done using the Student's t-test. P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The most affected teeth were the first molars (27.8%) followed by the second premolars (17.6%). There was a significant reduction in sensitivity following application of both control and experimental varnishes on day 1 and much further reduction by week 4. At week 4, P value using the tactile method was 0.090 while that of the air jet was 0.101. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the efficacy of the control and experimental varnishes. Conclusion: Duraphat exhibited better efficacy in the reduction of dentinal hypersensitivity, though the difference was not statistically significant. The Duraphat and Cervitec Plus varnishes can be substituted one for the other, though the Duraphat varnish is more readily available in our environment and costs less than Cervitec Plus varnish.