Dentine hypersensitivity: Management
![Girl brushing teeth in front of the mirror](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_PH/enamel/GEP28_Girl_Toothbrush_Mirror_Img_v2.jpg?auto=format)
Managing dentine hypersensitivity
Here we discuss different approaches for managing dentine hypersensitivity, including the consensus recommendations from the Canadian Advisory Board on dentine hypersensitivity, 2003.
Steps for managing dentine hypersensitivity
![Tooth with magnifying glass icon](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_PH/icons/GSK_GEP_Diagnosis_Icon.png?auto=format)
IDENTIFY
- Screen for dentine hypersensitivity and confirm with a differential diagnosis
![Patient resources icon](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_PH/icons/GSK_GEP_patient_care_resources_orange.png?auto=format)
EDUCATE
- Increase patient awareness of the causes of dentine hypersensitivity
- Advise on lifestyle changes they can make to successfully manage the condition
![Dentist Icon](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_PH/icons/ig-pronamel-management-750x422.png?auto=format)
RECOMMEND
- Along with appropriate advice, recommend or provide treatments to suit the individual needs of your patient
![Two men eating breakfast](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_PH/sensitivity/GEP228_Man_eatingbreakfast_v2.png?auto=format)
Educating your patients
Patients should be educated on how to manage their dentine hypersensitivity through changes in lifestyle and daily oral hygiene habits. Recommendations could include:1
- Instructing the patient on how to remove risk factors (e.g. excessive or ineffective toothbrushing)
- Removal of excessive dietary acids
Maintaining good oral hygiene is important for patients with dentine hypersensitivity.
Sensitivity toothpastes can have different mechanisms of action2,3
![Dentist speaking with patient](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_PH/sensitivity/GEP019_Dentist_speaking_with_patient970x416.jpg?auto=format)
Recurring dentine hypersensitivity and patient follow-up
Canadian Advisory Board guidelines for effective long-term management of dentine hypersensitivity recommend reassessing patients’ experience of pain at subsequent appointments. If they still experience dentine hypersensitivity pain they should be followed up and reviewed.2
![Dentine hypersensitivity management algorithm](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_PH/sensitivity/ig-sensodyne-DH-management-algorithm-970x416_2.jpg?auto=format)
Dentine hypersensitivity management: in summary2,3
Flowchart adapted from Canadian Advisory Board on Dentin Hypersensitivity, 2003.
Sensodyne – the world’s leading sensitivity toothpaste₹
![Tooth Icon](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_PH/icons/GEP162_tooth_icon_v2.png?auto=format)
![Ice Lolly Icon](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_PH/icons/GEP186_Learn_Hypersensitivity_icon_v2.png?auto=format)
Causes and mechanisms
Find out about the causes and mechanisms behind dentine hypersensitivity.
![Family icon](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_PH/icons/GSK_GEP_6.png?auto=format)
Impact on patient quality of life
Find out about the impact dentine hypersensitivity has on patients’ daily lives.
![Tooth with magnifying glass icon](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_PH/icons/GSK_GEP_Diagnosis_Icon.png?auto=format)
![Sensodyne logo](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_PH/sensitivity/GEP160_Sensodyne_logo.jpg?auto=format)
![Patient resources icon](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_PH/icons/GSK_GEP_Patient_Resources_Icon.png?auto=format)