Randomized clinical trial to determine if changes in dentin tubule occlusion visualized by SEM of replica impressions correlate with pain scores.

Purpose: To quantify dentin tubule occlusion and correlate this with pain reduction in vivo.

Methods: This was a single-center, randomized two treatment, examiner-blind, parallel study. 20 participants with confirmed dentin hypersensitivity (DH) were evaluated by Schiff Air Blast, VAS Air Blast and replica impression of the tooth surface to visualize tubule occlusion at baseline and following 4-week twice daily use of either an occluding toothpaste (8% strontium acetate, 1,040 ppm fluoride) or a non-occluding toothpaste (1,450 ppm fluoride).

Results: Both treatments increased tubule occlusion significantly from baseline to 4 weeks (P= 0.01) with significant decreases in pain score only seen with the occluding toothpaste (Schiff, P= 0.01; VAS, P= 0.01). Schiff pain score after 4 weeks was markedly reduced following treatment with the occluding toothpaste as compared to the non-occluding toothpaste, (P= 0.05) with no significant differences between the pastes for occlusion score or patient reported VAS, although the scores favored the occluding toothpaste.

Clinical Significance: Occlusion scores as obtained by replica impression techniques with SEM imaging correlate significantly with DH pain scores confirming proof of concept. With further refinement, this technique could be used to accurately quantify tubule occlusion in vivo and the associated pain reduction achieved by occluding toothpastes.