RESUMO
PURPOSE: To compare a new tactile hypersensitivity testing device [Jay Sensitivity Sensor (Jay) Probe] to three currently available methods of hypersensitivity testing: tactile hypersensitivity by the Yeaple probe, air blast (Schiff's Scale), and their overall hypersensitivity in the absence of any stimuli using the visual analog scores (VAS) during a clinical trial comparing the desensitizing potential of a dentifrice containing 8% arginine, calcium carbonate, and 1,000 ppm MFP (Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief; Test) against a commercially available fluoride dentifrice (Colgate Cibaca; Negative control). METHODS: This 8-week clinical study enrolled 100 adults with dentin hypersensitivity (DH) to evaluate the desensitizing potential of a dentifrice with 8% arginine, calcium carbonate, and 1000 ppm MFP against a commercially available fluoride dentifrice, on an Indian population. This study included a new DH testing device (Jay Probe) in addition to the current three methods of dentin hypersensitivity testing. Subjects were randomly assigned a dentifrice and were evaluated for DH after 2-week, 4-week and 8-week use of assigned dentifrice. RESULTS: At the end of the 8-week period, the results showed a significant improvement in dentin hypersensitivity in the Test group as compared to the Negative control group. The mean tactile hypersensitivity scores at the 8-week examinations were 39.67 and 38.33 by the Yeaple and Jay Probes, respectively, for the Test group and 15.72 and 15.00 for the Negative control group. These observations were consistent with the other hypersensitivity examinations by air blast and VAS.