Clinical comparison of gluma and Er:YAG laser treatment of cervically exposed hypersensitive dentin.

PURPOSE: To compare the desensitizing effects of a glutaraldehyde-based desensitizing system (Gluma) and an Er:YAG laser treatment on cervically exposed hypersensitive dentin. METHODS: A total of 22 subjects (mean age: 39 +/- 13.7 years; 15 females, 7 males) suffering from cervical dentin hypersensitivity was included in a prospective, split-mouth clinical study. The teeth were treated on one side of the mouth with the glutaraldehyde-based desensitizing system and on the other side with the Er:YAG laser. Sensitivity perception was recorded before treatment (baseline), during and immediately after treatment, after 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months. The subjects were asked to rate the sensitivity experienced during air stimulation by placing a mark on a visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: Both techniques showed an effective reduction of cervical dentin hypersensitivity. The subjects experienced equal improvements compared to their status before and 6 months after treatment with both methods (P<0.001).