Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Diagnosis of Dentin Hypersensitivity

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Clinician's Guide to the Diagnosis and Management of Tooth Sensitivity

  • 1596 Accesses

Abstract

Diagnosis of dentin hypersensitivity involves holistic assessment of the sufferer, particularly the condition of the involved tooth and to identify the cause of the pain or discomfort in order to prescribe appropriate treatment. Knowledge of the physiology of pain and methods of interpreting it with available clinical diagnostic devices is essential to reach a proper diagnosis. The history of the patient’s pain is the first clinical data the dentist must collect and consider with careful attention being paid to its characteristics as revealed by the patient’s responses, such as the type, duration, frequency, stimulating factors, and disturbed oral functions. Associating patient’s features and other factors capable of exposing dentin and opening up the tubules must be well explored. Ultimately, correct diagnosis necessitates awareness of clinical conditions which are similar in their presenting features. Diverse standardized stimuli and means of quantifying the pain of dentin hypersensitivity are discussed in this chapter.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Addy M, West NX, Barlow A et al (2007) Dentin hypersensitivity: is there both stimulus and placebo responses in clinical trials. Int J Dent Hyg 5(1):53–59

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson DJ, Matthews B, Shelton LE (1967) Variations in the sensitivity to osmotic stimulation of human dentin. Arch Oral Biol 12(1):43–47

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Andrej MK (2002) Dentin hypersensitivity: simple steps for everyday diagnosis and management. Int Dent J 52:394–396

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrew D, Matthews B (2000) Displacement of the contents of dentinal tubules and sensory transduction in intradental nerves of the cat. J Physiol 529(Pt 3):791–802

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bamise CT, Olusile AO, Oginni AO et al (2007) Prevalence of dentin hypersensitivity among adult patients attending a Nigerian teaching hospital. Oral Health Prev Dent 5(1):49–53

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bender IB (2000) Pulpal pain diagnosis—a review. J Endod 26(3):175–179

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Braennstroem M, Astroem A (1964) A study on the mechanism of pain elicited from the dentin. J Dent Res 43:619–625

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brannstrom M, Astrom A (1972) The hydrodynamics of the dentin; its possible relationship to dental pain. Int Dent J 22:219–227

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Canadian Advisory Board on Dentin Hypersensitivity (2003) Consensus-based recommendations for the diagnosis and management of dentin hypersensitivity. J Can Dent Assoc 69:221–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Curro FA (1990) Tooth hypersensitivity in the spectrum of pain. Dent Clin North Am 34:429–437

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dababneh RH, Khouri AT, Addy M (1999) Dentin hypersensitivity an enigma? A review of terminology, epidemiology, mechanisms, aetiology and management. Br Dent J 187:606–611

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Drisko CH (2002) Dentin hypersensitivity – dental hygiene and periodontal considerations. Int Dent J 52:385–393

    Google Scholar 

  • Gernhardt CR (2013) How valid and applicable are current diagnostic criteria and assessment methods for dentin hypersensitivity? An overview. Clin Oral Investig 17(Suppl 1):31–40

    Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Gillam DG, Newman HN (1993) Assessment of pain in cervical dentinal sensitivity studies. A review. J Clin Periodontol 20(6):383–394

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gillam DG, Orchardson R, Närhi MVO, Kontturi-Närhi V (2000) Present and future methods for the evaluation of pain associated with dentin hypersensitivity. In: Addy M, Embery G, Edgar WM, Orchardson R (eds) Tooth wear and sensitivity. Martin Dunitz, London, pp 283–297

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillam DG, Newman HN, Davies EH et al (2004) Clinical evaluation of ferric oxalate in relieving dentin hypersensitivity. J Oral Rehabil 31(3):245–250

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gunji T (1982) Morphological research on the sensitivity of dentin. Arch Histol Jpn 45:45–67

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holland GR (1981) The incidence of dentinal tubules containing more than one process in the cuspal dentin of cat canine teeth. Anat Rec 200:437–442

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holland GR, Narhi MN, Addy M et al (1997) Guidelines for the design and conduct of clinical trials on dentin hypersensitivity. J Clin Periodontol 24(11):808–813

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Irwin CR, McCusker P (1997) Prevalence of dentin hypersensitivity in general dental population. J Ir Dent Assoc 43:7–9

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kleinberg I, Kaufman HW, Confessore F (1990) Methods of measuring tooth hypersensitivity. Dent Clin North Am 34:515–529

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kleinberg I, Kaufman HW, Wolff M (1994) Measurement of tooth hypersensitivity and oral factors involved in its development. Arch Oral Biol 39:63S–71S

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lilja J (1980) Sensory differences between crown and root dentin in human teeth. Acta Odontol Scand 38:285–291

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Matthews B, Vongsavan N (1994) Interactions between neural and hydrodynamic mechanisms in dentin and pulp. Arch Oral Biol 39(Suppl):87S–95S

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Narhi MV (1985) Dentin sensitivity: a review. J Biol Buccale 13(2):75–96

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Narhi MV, Hirvonen T (1987) The response of dog intradental nerves to hypertonic solutions of CaCl2 and NaCl, and other stimuli, applied to exposed dentin. Arch Oral Biol 32(11):781–786

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Narhi MV, Hirvonen TJ, Hakumäki MOK (1982a) Responses of intradental nerve fibres to stimulation of dentin and pulp. Acta Physiol Scand 115(2):173–178

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Narhi M, Jyvasjarvi E, Hirvonen T et al (1982b) Activation of heat-sensitive nerve fibres in the dental pulp of the cat. Pain 14(4):317–326

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Narhi M, Jyvasjarvi E, Virtanen A et al (1992a) Role of intradental A- and C-type nerve fibres in dental pain mechanisms. Proc Finn Dent Soc 88(Suppl 1):507–516

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Narhi M, Kontturi-Narhi V, Hirvonen T et al (1992b) Neurophysiological mechanisms of dentin hypersensitivity. Proc Finn Dent Soc 88(Suppl 1):15–22

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Olgart L, Kerezoudis NP (1994) Nerve pulp interactions. Archs Oral Biol 39:47s–54s

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orchardson R, Collins WJ (1987a) Thresholds of hypersensitive teeth to 2 forms of controlled stimulation. J Clin Periodontol 14(2):68–73

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Orchardson R, Collins WJN (1987b) Clinical features of hypersensitive teeth. Br Dent J 162:253–256

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pashley DH (1986) Sensitivity of dentin to chemical stimuli. Endod Dent Traumatol 2(4):130–137

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pashley DH (1990) Mechanisms of dentin sensitivity. Dent Clin North Am 34(3):449–473

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Polson AM, Caton IB, Yeaple RN et al (1980) Histological determination of probe tip penetration into gingival sulcus of humans using an electronic pressure sensitive probe. J Clin Periodontol 7(6):479–488

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rees JS (2000) The prevalence of dentin hypersensitivity in general dental practice in the UK. J Clin Periodontol 27(11):860–865

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schuurs AHB, Wesselink PR, Eijkman MAJ et al (1995) Dentist’s views on cervical hypersensitivity and their knowledge of its treatment. Endod Dent Traumatol 1:240–244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith BA, Ash MM Jr (1964) Evaluation of a desensitizing dentifrice and cervical hypersensitivity. J Am Dent Assoc 68:639–647

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Taani SD, Awartani F (2002) Clinical evaluation of cervical dentin hypersensitivity (CDS) in patients attending general dental clinics (PDC) and periodontal specialty clinics (PSC). J Clin Periodontol 29:118–122

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ten Cate AR (1994) Oral histology, development structure and function. CV Mosby Year book, St Louis

    Google Scholar 

  • Thrash WJ, Dorman HL, Smith FD (1983) A method to measure pain associated with hypersensitive dentin. J Periodontol 54(3):160–162

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Trowbridge HO (1985) Intradental sensory units: physiological and clinical aspects. J Endod 11(11):489–498

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Trowbridge HO (2003) Pulp biology: progress during the past 25 years. Aust Endod J 29(1):5–12

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Trowbridge HO, Franks M, Korostoff E et al (1980) Sensory response to thermal stimulation in human teeth. J Endod 6(1):405–412

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vongsavan N, Matthews B (2007) The relationship between the discharge of interdental nerves and the rate of fluid flow through dentin in the cat. Arch Oral Biol 52(7):640–647, Epub 2007 Feb 15

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun-State, Nigeria

    Cornelius Tokunbo Bamise

Authors
  1. Cornelius Tokunbo Bamise
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cornelius Tokunbo Bamise .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan

    Sahar Taha

  2. Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences and Endodontics, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

    Brian H. Clarkson

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Bamise, C.T. (2014). Diagnosis of Dentin Hypersensitivity. In: Taha, S., Clarkson, B. (eds) Clinician's Guide to the Diagnosis and Management of Tooth Sensitivity. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-45164-5_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-45164-5_4

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-45163-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-45164-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation