Dentine Hypersensitivity: an Overview

Dentine hypersensitivity is one of the oldest recorded complaints of discomfort to mankind. It is characterized by pain that arises from exposed dentine typically in response to a variety of stimuli which cannot be ascribed to any other form of dental defect or pathology. It has no obvious physical signs beyond the pain experienced by the patient, and so it may be difficult to detect during a dental examination. Only a thorough assessment of symptoms and clinical findings assisted by various diagnostic tests can, by ruling out the presence of other conditions, confirm its diagnosis. In such a scenario, it would be only through greater awareness and knowledge of the aetiology, risk factors and prevention strategies that a dentist would be able to to manage dentine hypersensitivity more effectively for the patient.