Dentine hypersensitivity: the distribution of recession, sensitivity and plaque

Abstract

The features of dentine hypersensitivity have been presented largely in descriptive form and there is only limited information on the intraoral distribution of the condition. Additionally, there have been conflicting reports of both high and low plaque accumulation at sites of hypersensitivity. This study investigates the distribution of recession, sensitivity and plaque in a group of 92 patients diagnosed as suffering moderate to severe dentine hypersensitivity affecting several teeth. The group was relatively homogeneous and there was no significant variation in recession, sensitivity or plaque scores between subjects. Tooth number (1–28) highly significantly influenced all parameters. In three-way analyses of variance to identify the effects of jaw, side and tooth number in a segment (1–7) almost all parameters were significantly influenced, however:

• 1. The dominant factors affecting degree of recession were side and tooth number.

• 2. The dominant factor affecting sensitivity was side.

• 3. The dominant factors affecting buccal plaque were side and tooth number.

• 4. The dominant factor affecting lingual plaque was jaw.

Two- and three-way interactions were, for the most part, also significant. The correlation matrix revealed significant positive correlations for recession with sensitivity and significant negative correlations for recession and sensitivity with buccal plaque. The findings indicate that the intraoral distribution of recession, sensitivity and plaque in this selected population is complex, being partly fitted by a main-effects model, and suggest that tooth cleaning is one of several major factors which influence the occurrence and distribution of dentine hypersensitivity.