Evaluation of instant desensitization after a single topical application over 30 days: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of ProArgin(™) (8% arginine), Gluma(®) and NovaMin(®) (5% calcium phosphosilicate) in relieving dentinal hypersensitivity immediately and over 30 days following a single topical application. METHODS: A three-cell, parallel group randomized trial was conducted among 56 patients exhibiting dentinal hypersensitivity with tooth as the unit of study. ProArgin(™) paste, Gluma(®) Desensitizer and NovaMin(®) paste were applied on randomly assigned teeth in each participant. Three stimuli were tested: tactile stimulated by running an explorer and measured using VAS (1-10 scale); air blast and cold water stimulated hypersensitivity measured using the Schiff Sensitivity Scale at baseline, immediately, 15 days and 30 days after application. Friedman test and Wilcoxon test were used for within group comparisons. Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for between group comparisons. RESULTS: All three groups showed significant reductions in hypersensitivity from baseline at all time points (p < 0.05). ProArgin(™) paste elicited a significantly higher reduction in hypersensitivity (p < 0.016) compared to Gluma(®) and NovaMin(®) for all stimuli at the end of 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: A single topical application of ProArgin(™) paste is significantly more effective than both a single topical application of Gluma(®) and NovaMin(®) paste in relieving dentinal hypersensitivity immediately and over 30 days.