A clinical comparison of the effect of powered and manual toothbrushes on dentin hypersensitivity

The effects of Philips Sonicare EliteRTM powered toothbrushes and Oral-B CrossActionRTM Vitalizer(TM) (soft) manual toothbrushes on dentin hypersensitivity (DS) when used in conjunction with Sensodyne FRTM Ultrafresh toothpaste were examined.Methods. An eight-week, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial involving 42 subjects with sensitivity on at least one canine/premolar tooth was conducted. Tactile and thermal stimulation were used to elicit DS, which was measured using a 100mm visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ).Results. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of relevant socio-demographic variables. On average, 25% to 31% reduction in DS was observed using the powered toothbrush compared to 16% to 19% using the manual toothbrush after 8 weeks. Group differences were borderline statistically significant using thermal stimulation (p = 0.08).Conclusion. Powered toothbrushes may be effective in reducing dentin hypersensitivity when used in conjunction with desensitizing toothpaste.