The effect of a novel crystallised bioactive glass-ceramic powder on dentine hypersensitivity: a long-term clinical study

Summary  The aim of this comparative clinical study was to evaluate a novel bioactive glass-ceramic (Biosilicate® 1–20 μm particles) to treat dentine hypersensitivity (DH). Volunteers (n = 120 patients/ 230 teeth) received the following treatments: G1-Sensodyne®, G2-SensiKill®, G3-Biosilicate® incorporated in a 1% water-free-gel and G4-Biosilicate® mixed with distilled water at 1:10 ratio. G1 and G3 were applied at home, daily for 30 days; G2 and G4 were applied once a week by a dentist (four applications). A visual analogue scale (VAS) was employed to evaluate pain for each quadrant in one sensitive tooth at baseline, weekly during treatment and during a 6-month follow-up period. Dentine hypersensitivity values (G1/n = 52), (G2/n = 62), (G3/n = 59) and (G4/n = 59) were analysed with Kruskal–Wallis/Dunn tests. All the products were efficient in reducing DH after 4 weeks. Among the four materials tested, G4 demonstrated the best clinical performance and provided the fastest treatment to reduce DH pain. Distilled water proved to be an adequate vehicle to disperse Biosilicate®. Low DH scores were maintained during the 6-month follow-up period. The hypothesis that the novel bioactive glass-ceramic may be an efficient treatment for DH was confirmed.