Managing Teeth Sensitivity

Man with dentine hypersensitivity brushing teeth

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

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IDENTIFY

  • Screen for dentine hypersensitivity and confirm with a differential diagnosis
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EDUCATE

  • Increase patient awareness of the causes of dentine hypersensitivity
  • Advise on lifestyle changes they can make to successfully manage the condition
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RECOMMEND

  • Along with appropriate advice, recommend or provide treatments to suit the individual needs of your patient
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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.

Download a patient poster on general tooth-brushing advice.

Recommend specialist sensitivity toothpastes

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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

Tooth sensitivity management flow chart

Dentine hypersensitivity management: in summary2,3

Flowchart adapted from Canadian Advisory Board on Dentin Hypersensitivity, 2003.

Read the consensus-based recommendations for the diagnosis and management of dentine hypersensitivity.

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Dentine hypersensitivity

Find out more about dentine hypersensitivity.

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Causes and mechanisms

Find out about the causes and mechanisms behind dentine hypersensitivity.

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Impact on patient quality of life

Find out about the impact dentine hypersensitivity has on patients’ daily lives.

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Diagnosis

Explore an overview of diagnosing dentine hypersensitivity.

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The Sensodyne range

Find out how the Sensodyne range can help your patients.

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Patient care resources

Download resources for your patients.

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