RESUMO
AIM: This in vitro study was designed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of a dentifrice containing 8% arginine and calcium carbonate, diode laser (810 nm) and the combined use of diode laser (810 nm) and the same dentifrice in occluding dentinal tubules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty sectioned dentine discs were observed in this study. The Samples were randomly divided into 4 groups. In group A, a dentifrice containing arginine and calcium carbonate was applied. In group B, the specimens were subjected to diode laser (810 nm) irradiation. In group C, the same dentifrice was applied and the specimens were subjected to diode laser (810 nm) treatment. Group D was left untreated and served as the control. The specimens were observed under the scanning electron microscope. Then the photomicrographs of each specimen were taken which were uploaded into Photoshop 7®, and the diameters of the dentinal tubules of each specimen were measured and the data were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The overall comparison between different treatment modalities using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple comparisons of two modalities assessed using post hoc Tukey method revealed that there is a highly significant difference (p value = 0.0001) in the dentinal tubule diameter and rate of occlusion in different treatment modalities. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that all three treatment modalities caused significant occlusion of dentinal tubules. The combined use of desensitizing toothpaste and diode laser (810 nm) is the most effective, then comes the diode laser (810 nm) alone and finally the desensitizing toothpaste alone. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study suggests an effective treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity using diode laser and desensitizing toothpaste.