Short-Term Comparative Evaluation of the Efficacy of Diode Laser with Desensitizing Toothpaste Versus Desensitizing Toothpaste Alone for the Treatment of Dentinal Hypersensitivity – A Split-Mouth Randomized Clinical Trial

Short-Term Comparative Evaluation of the Efficacy of Diode Laser with Desensitizing Toothpaste Versus Desensitizing Toothpaste Alone for the Treatment of Dentinal Hypersensitivity – A Split-Mouth Randomized Clinical Trial | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Short-Term Comparative Evaluation of the Efficacy of Diode Laser with Desensitizing Toothpaste Versus Desensitizing Toothpaste Alone for the Treatment of Dentinal Hypersensitivity – A Split-Mouth Randomized Clinical Trial Vishal Tankariya, Sarita Mori, Chaitali Agrawal, Amit Benjamin, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7127888/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background Dentinal hypersensitivity (DH) presents as short, sharp pain from exposed dentin due to thermal, chemical, or tactile stimuli. Standard management includes desensitizing agents, while adjunctive diode laser therapy offers promising outcomes. Aim To assess the short-term efficacy of diode laser treatment combined with desensitizing toothpaste compared to desensitizing toothpaste alone in a split-mouth randomized clinical trial. Methods Twenty patients with bilateral DH were enrolled in a split-mouth design. Each subject received diode laser therapy (910 nm, 0.5 W, 30 sec) on one side of the arch along with desensitizing toothpaste (Group A), and only desensitizing toothpaste on the contralateral side (Group B). Sensitivity was measured at baseline, 1 week, and 4 weeks using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Schiff Cold Air Sensitivity Scale (SCASS). Statistical analysis was conducted using paired t-tests and repeated measures ANOVA (p < 0.05). Results Both groups showed significant improvement. However, Group A showed a significantly greater reduction in VAS and SCASS scores at both follow-up intervals compared to Group B (p < 0.05). Conclusion Diode laser therapy, combined with desensitizing toothpaste, demonstrated superior short-term efficacy in reducing dental hypersensitivity (DH) compared to toothpaste alone. The split-mouth design validates the intra-patient comparative benefit of adjunctive diode laser therapy. Dentinal hypersensitivity diode laser desensitizing toothpaste split-mouth trial VAS SCASS Introduction Dentinal hypersensitivity (DH) is a frequent yet challenging clinical condition, reported to affect up to 30% of adults globally [ 1 ]. It is characterized by sharp, transient pain resulting from exposed dentin reacting to external stimuli such as cold, touch, or osmotic changes [ 2 ]. The hydrodynamic theory remains the most widely accepted mechanism explaining DH, suggesting that fluid shifts in open dentinal tubules activate pulpal nerve endings [ 3 ]. Various treatment modalities aim to occlude dentinal tubules and desensitize pulpal nerve endings. Desensitizing toothpastes, containing potassium nitrate, arginine, or stannous fluoride, work primarily by occluding the tubules or depolarizing nerves [ 4 , 5 ]. However, their onset of action is gradual and often requires consistent use over weeks. In contrast, diode laser therapy (980 nm) provides an immediate analgesic effect by: Physically sealing dentinal tubules via photothermal coagulation Inhibiting nerve transmission Offering antimicrobial benefits [ 6 , 7 ] Despite both modalities being clinically effective, few studies have compared their combined effect versus toothpaste alone using a split-mouth design. A split-mouth trial eliminates inter-patient variability, increasing the reliability of outcomes [ 8 ]. Aim and Objective This study aims to compare the short-term efficacy of diode laser combined with desensitizing toothpaste against toothpaste alone using a split-mouth randomized clinical design. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the diode laser in combination with desensitizing toothpaste compared to toothpaste alone, using a split-mouth randomized clinical design. Materials and Methods A randomized, controlled, single-blind, split-mouth clinical trial was conducted over a 4-week period. This study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of Ahmedabad Dental College (IECADC) (Ref. No. IECADC/0100/2024) and conducted in accordance with the ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki (2013 revision). All participants were informed about the study protocol and provided written informed consent before participation. Inclusion Criteria : Age 20–50 years At least two contralateral teeth with DH (VAS ≥ 4) No active periodontal or endodontic pathology Exclusion Criteria : Use of desensitizing products in the last 2 months Recent periodontal therapy Pregnant/lactating women Systemic conditions affecting pain perception A split-mouth design was employed: Group A: One side of the mouth (e.g., right maxilla) was randomly allocated to Laser + Toothpaste Group B: The contralateral side (e.g., left maxilla) was assigned to Toothpaste Alone Randomization was performed using a computer-generated sequence by an independent operator. Treatment Protocol Group A – Diode Laser + Desensitizing Toothpaste Diode laser (980 nm, 0.5 W, continuous mode) was applied for 30 seconds per tooth using a sweeping motion. Participants used desensitizing toothpaste containing Calcium Sodium Phosphosilicate + 927 ppm fluoride twice daily. Group B – Desensitizing Toothpaste Alone Participants brushed twice daily using the same toothpaste Participants were instructed not to use any additional oral hygiene products for the study duration. Outcome Measures All assessments were conducted by a blinded examiner. The parameters evaluated included the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), which ranges from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain), and the Schiff Cold Air Sensitivity Scale (SCASS), which utilizes a scale of 0 to 3 based on air-blast response. Data regarding these parameters were recorded at baseline (Day 0), 1 week, and 4 weeks intervals. Results Statistical Analysis Data was recorded in MS Excel and was analyzed using SPSS v23.0 (IBM Corp.). Paired t-tests were used for intra-group comparison. Inter-group differences were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. The mean differences were measured at baseline, 1 week, and 4 weeks intervals. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 20 patients (40 quadrants) were analyzed. The mean age was 34.2 ± 6.8 years; 12 were female, and 8 were male. All participants completed the 4-week follow-up. Table 1 VAS Scores Time Point Group A (Mean ± SD) Group B (Mean ± SD) p-value Baseline 6.55 ± 0.76 6.55 ± 0.76 0.02 1 Week 4.0 ± 0.86 4.75 ± 0.79 0.0036* 4 Weeks 2.55 ± 0.6 3.9 ± 0.71 0.0001* (*Statistically significant) Table 1 represents the inter-group comparison of the VAS Score between Group A and Group B. A statistically significant difference is found between both groups with a p-value of 0.0001. This indicates a statistically significant difference between patients receiving laser + desensitizing toothpaste and desensitizing toothpaste alone. Table 2 SCASS Scores Time Point Group A (Mean ± SD) Group B (Mean ± SD) p-value Baseline 2.85 ± 0.37 2.85 ± 0.37 0.41 1 Week 1.80 ± 0.41 2.15 ± 0.37 0.0004* 4 Weeks 1.05 ± 0.22 1.90 ± 0.31 0.0001* (*Statistically significant) Table 2 represents the inter-group comparison of the SCASS Scores between Group A and Group B. The p-value is 0.0001 at 4 weeks interval, which shows a statistically significant difference between both groups. Both groups showed improvement, but the laser-treated sites exhibited significantly greater reduction in DH at both follow-ups. Discussion The present randomized controlled clinical trial evaluated the short-term efficacy of diode laser therapy combined with desensitising toothpaste (Group A) versus desensitising toothpaste alone (Group B) in the management of dentinal hypersensitivity (DH), using both the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Schiff Cold Air Sensitivity Scale (SCASS) as outcome measures. The results revealed that both treatment modalities produced significant reductions in VAS and SCASS scores at 1 week and 4 weeks post-treatment. However, the magnitude of symptom relief was notably greater and more sustained in the diode laser group. This was particularly evident in the VAS scores, where intergroup comparison at 4 weeks showed highly significant differences (p < 0.001), favoring Group A. These findings are in concordance with earlier studies that have demonstrated the superior efficacy of diode laser therapy in reducing DH when compared to conventional desensitising agents. Yilmaz et al. (2011) observed a significant reduction in pain scores following diode laser application, attributing the effect to occlusion of dentinal tubules and modulation of pulpal nerve responses through photobiomodulation [ 10 ]. Similarly, Gojkov-Vukelic et al. (2012) reported that 980 nm diode laser application significantly reduced hypersensitivity, even after a single session [ 11 ]. The mechanism by which diode lasers alleviate DH is thought to involve the coagulation and protein precipitation within the dentinal tubules, leading to their occlusion and reduction in fluid flow as proposed by Brännström’s hydrodynamic theory [ 12 ]. In addition, diode lasers exhibit biostimulatory effects, which may reduce neural transmission and pain perception [ 13 ]. Conversely, desensitising toothpastes—typically containing potassium nitrate or stannous fluoride—act through chemical occlusion of tubules or neural desensitisation by raising the threshold of pain transmission in the pulpal nerves. In our study, Group B also showed significant reductions in VAS and SCASS scores at 1 week, consistent with the findings of Poulsen et al. (2006), who affirmed the clinical efficacy of potassium nitrate-based dentifrices in reducing DH symptoms [ 14 ]. However, the effect plateaued by 4 weeks in Group B, particularly for SCASS scores, where the intragroup comparison from 1 week to 4 weeks was statistically non-significant (p > 0.05), suggesting a limitation in the long-term efficacy of toothpaste alone. Interestingly, the superior performance of diode laser therapy may also be linked to enhanced sealing of tubules and greater patient comfort due to its non-invasive application and immediate effects. This was echoed by Moritz et al. (1997), who demonstrated long-lasting relief in hypersensitivity following laser therapy [ 15 ]. Our results highlight the clinical advantage of integrating diode laser therapy as an adjunct to conventional desensitising regimens. Given the chronic and often recurrent nature of DH, approaches that provide rapid and sustained relief are of high value in clinical practice. Limitations of the present study include the relatively short follow-up period (4 weeks) and the subjective nature of hypersensitivity assessment. Long-term randomized trials with larger sample sizes and objective diagnostic modalities such as scanning electron microscopy or thermal imaging could further elucidate the tubule-sealing effects and tissue responses. Future research should assess longer-term outcomes and test different laser wavelengths and toothpaste combinations. Conclusion Within the limitations of this study, diode laser therapy combined with desensitizing toothpaste significantly reduced dentinal hypersensitivity more effectively than toothpaste alone. The split-mouth design confirmed intra-patient benefits, supporting the adjunctive use of diode lasers in routine clinical management of DH. Declarations Author Contribution Author A: Concepts, Design, Definition of intellectual content, Literature search, Data acquisition, Data analysis, Manuscript preparation, Manuscript editing, Manuscript review, GuarantorAuthor B: Concepts, Literature search, Data acquisition, Manuscript preparation, Manuscript review, GuarantorAuthor C & D: Concepts, Definition of intellectual content, Literature search, Data acquisition, Data analysis, Manuscript review, GuarantorAuthor E: Literature search, Data acquisition, Guarantor Acknowledgement I am truly thankful to Ahmedabad Dental College and Hospital for their continued support throughout this study. My sincere thanks to Dr. Mishal Shah and Dr. Saket Rajput for their valuable guidance and encouragement at every stage. I am also grateful to Dr. Rakesh Patel and Dr.Khushboo R. for their helpful support. Clinical Significance Incorporating diode laser therapy into periodontal and preventive practices can provide faster and more reliable relief from DH, enhancing patient satisfaction and compliance. Clinical Trial Number: Not applicable. Funding Declaration : This research received no external funding. References Addy M. Dentine hypersensitivity: new perspectives on an old problem. Int Dent J. 2002;52(S5P1):367–75. DOI:10.1002/j.1875-595X.2002.tb00936.x Orchardson R, Gillam DG. Managing dentin hypersensitivity. J Am Dent Assoc. 2006;137(7):990–8. DOI: 10.14219/jada.archive.2006.0321 Brännström M. Sensitivity of dentine. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1966;21(4):517–26. DOI: 10.1016/0030-4220(66)90411-7 Hu ML, Zheng G, Zhang YD, Yan X, Li XC, Lin H. Effect of desensitizing toothpastes on dentine hypersensitivity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Dent. 2018 Aug;75:12-21. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2018.05.012. Jena A, Shashirekha G. Comparison of efficacy of three different desensitizing agents for in-office relief of dentin hypersensitivity: A 4 weeks clinical study. J Conserv Dent. 2015 Sep-Oct;18(5):389-93. doi: 10.4103/0972-0707.164052. Al-Omari WM, Hammad SM. Use of diode laser in treating dentinal hypersensitivity. J Clin Laser Med Surg. 2004;22(5):275–80. DOI:10.1034/j.1600-051x.2000.027010715.x Nammour S, El Mobadder M, Maalouf E, Namour M, Namour A, Rey G, Matamba P, Matys J, Zeinoun T, Grzech-Leśniak K. Clinical Evaluation of Diode (980 nm) Laser-Assisted Nonsurgical Periodontal Pocket Therapy: A Randomized Comparative Clinical Trial and Bacteriological Study. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2021 Jan;39(1):10-22. doi: 10.1089/photob.2020.4818. Lesaffre E, Philstrom B, Needleman I, Worthington H. The design and analysis of split-mouth studies: what statisticians and clinicians should know. Stat Med. 2009 Dec 10;28(28):3470-82. doi: 10.1002/sim.3634. Gojkov-Vukelic M, Hadzic S, Zukanovic A, Pasic E, Pavlic V. Application of Diode Laser in the Treatment of Dentine Hypersensitivity. Med Arch. 2016 Dec;70(6):466-469. doi: 10.5455/medarh.2016.70.466-469. Yilmaz HG, Kurtulmus-Yilmaz S, Cengiz E, Bayindir H, Aykac Y. Clinical evaluation of Er,Cr:YSGG and GaAlAs laser therapy for treating dentine hypersensitivity: A randomized controlled clinical trial. J Dent. 2011 Mar;39(3):249-54. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2011.01.003. Gojkov-Vukelic M, Hadzic S, Zukanovic A, Pasic E, Pavlic V. Application of Diode Laser in the Treatment of Dentine Hypersensitivity. Med Arch. 2016 Dec;70(6):466-469. doi: 10.5455/medarh.2016.70.466-469. Brannstrom M. The hydrodynamic theory of dentinal pain: sensation in preparations, caries, and the dentinal crack syndrome. J Endod. 1986 Oct;12(10):453-7. doi: 10.1016/S0099-2399(86)80198-4. Yu CH, Chang YC. Clinical efficacy of the Er:YAG laser treatment on hypersensitive dentin. J Formos Med Assoc. 2014 Jun;113(6):388-91. doi: 10.1016/j.jfma.2013.02.013. Poulsen S, Errboe M, Lescay Mevil Y, Glenny AM. Potassium containing toothpastes for dentine hypersensitivity. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006 Jul 19;2006(3):CD001476. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001476. Moritz A, Gutknecht N, Doertbudak O, Goharkhay K, Schoop U, Schauer P, Sperr W. Bacterial reduction in periodontal pockets through irradiation with a diode laser: a pilot study. J Clin Laser Med Surg. 1997 Feb;15(1):33-7. doi: 10.1089/clm.1997.15.33. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7127888","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":491487222,"identity":"deaca852-1e9b-4d1f-9f0e-0041c3b6399c","order_by":0,"name":"Vishal Tankariya","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"","institution":"Gujarat University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Vishal","middleName":"","lastName":"Tankariya","suffix":""},{"id":491487223,"identity":"ca2bbbe1-4acf-43eb-b645-0e12c2d3bee2","order_by":1,"name":"Sarita Mori","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Gujarat University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Sarita","middleName":"","lastName":"Mori","suffix":""},{"id":491487224,"identity":"311ac277-2b72-48bc-a0c8-b1495c344292","order_by":2,"name":"Chaitali Agrawal","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Gujarat University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Chaitali","middleName":"","lastName":"Agrawal","suffix":""},{"id":491487225,"identity":"e2708070-4c79-4e95-a157-632f603e7c88","order_by":3,"name":"Amit Benjamin","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Gujarat University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Amit","middleName":"","lastName":"Benjamin","suffix":""},{"id":491487226,"identity":"844383fe-5a55-4a75-9f71-9460880197b3","order_by":4,"name":"Jayraj Desai","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Gujarat University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jayraj","middleName":"","lastName":"Desai","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-07-15 08:08:17","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7127888/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7127888/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":93533874,"identity":"c38ee25c-f11f-43d7-af23-c861559012aa","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-14 23:46:31","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":433828,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7127888/v1/bd5ed26c-6513-42d3-b829-72e468e85407.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Short-Term Comparative Evaluation of the Efficacy of Diode Laser with Desensitizing Toothpaste Versus Desensitizing Toothpaste Alone for the Treatment of Dentinal Hypersensitivity – A Split-Mouth Randomized Clinical Trial","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eDentinal hypersensitivity (DH) is a frequent yet challenging clinical condition, reported to affect up to 30% of adults globally [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. It is characterized by sharp, transient pain resulting from exposed dentin reacting to external stimuli such as cold, touch, or osmotic changes [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e]. The hydrodynamic theory remains the most widely accepted mechanism explaining DH, suggesting that fluid shifts in open dentinal tubules activate pulpal nerve endings [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e]. Various treatment modalities aim to occlude dentinal tubules and desensitize pulpal nerve endings. Desensitizing toothpastes, containing potassium nitrate, arginine, or stannous fluoride, work primarily by occluding the tubules or depolarizing nerves [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e]. However, their onset of action is gradual and often requires consistent use over weeks.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn contrast, diode laser therapy (980 nm) provides an immediate analgesic effect by:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003ePhysically sealing dentinal tubules via photothermal coagulation\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eInhibiting nerve transmission\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eOffering antimicrobial benefits [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDespite both modalities being clinically effective, few studies have compared their combined effect versus toothpaste alone using a split-mouth design. A split-mouth trial eliminates inter-patient variability, increasing the reliability of outcomes [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAim and Objective\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis study aims to compare the short-term efficacy of diode laser combined with desensitizing toothpaste against toothpaste alone using a split-mouth randomized clinical design.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the diode laser in combination with desensitizing toothpaste compared to toothpaste alone, using a split-mouth randomized clinical design.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Materials and Methods","content":"\u003cp\u003eA randomized, controlled, single-blind, split-mouth clinical trial was conducted over a 4-week period. This study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of Ahmedabad Dental College (IECADC) (Ref. No. IECADC/0100/2024) and conducted in accordance with the ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki (2013 revision). All participants were informed about the study protocol and provided written informed consent before participation.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eInclusion Criteria\u003c/em\u003e:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eAge 20\u0026ndash;50 years\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt least two contralateral teeth with DH (VAS\u0026thinsp;\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;4)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo active periodontal or endodontic pathology\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eExclusion Criteria\u003c/em\u003e:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eUse of desensitizing products in the last 2 months\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eRecent periodontal therapy\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003ePregnant/lactating women\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eSystemic conditions affecting pain perception\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA split-mouth design was employed:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eGroup A: One side of the mouth (e.g., right maxilla) was randomly allocated to Laser\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Toothpaste\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eGroup B: The contralateral side (e.g., left maxilla) was assigned to Toothpaste Alone\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRandomization was performed using a computer-generated sequence by an independent operator.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTreatment Protocol\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGroup A \u0026ndash; Diode Laser\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Desensitizing Toothpaste\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eDiode laser (980 nm, 0.5 W, continuous mode) was applied for 30 seconds per tooth using a sweeping motion.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003e Participants used desensitizing toothpaste containing Calcium Sodium Phosphosilicate\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;927 ppm fluoride twice daily.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGroup B \u0026ndash; Desensitizing Toothpaste Alone\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003e Participants brushed twice daily using the same toothpaste\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Participants were instructed not to use any additional oral hygiene products for the study duration.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eOutcome Measures\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAll assessments were conducted by a blinded examiner. The parameters evaluated included the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), which ranges from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain), and the Schiff Cold Air Sensitivity Scale (SCASS), which utilizes a scale of 0 to 3 based on air-blast response. Data regarding these parameters were recorded at baseline (Day 0), 1 week, and 4 weeks intervals.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec4\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eStatistical Analysis\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eData was recorded in MS Excel and was analyzed using SPSS v23.0 (IBM Corp.). Paired t-tests were used for intra-group comparison. Inter-group differences were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. The mean differences were measured at baseline, 1 week, and 4 weeks intervals. A p-value\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05 was considered statistically significant.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA total of 20 patients (40 quadrants) were analyzed. The mean age was 34.2\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;6.8 years; 12 were female, and 8 were male. All participants completed the 4-week follow-up.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVAS Scores\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTime Point\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eGroup A (Mean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SD)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eGroup B (Mean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SD)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ep-value\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBaseline\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.55\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.76\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.55\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.76\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.02\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1 Week\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.0\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.86\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.75\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.79\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.0036*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4 Weeks\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.55\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.9\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.71\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.0001*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(*Statistically significant)\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e represents the inter-group comparison of the VAS Score between Group A and Group B. A statistically significant difference is found between both groups with a p-value of 0.0001. This indicates a statistically significant difference between patients receiving laser\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;desensitizing toothpaste and desensitizing toothpaste alone.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSCASS Scores\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTime Point\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eGroup A (Mean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SD)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eGroup B (Mean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SD)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ep-value\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBaseline\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.85\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.37\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.85\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.37\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.41\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1 Week\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.80\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.41\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.15\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.37\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.0004*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4 Weeks\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.05\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.22\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.90\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.31\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.0001*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(*Statistically significant)\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e represents the inter-group comparison of the SCASS Scores between Group A and Group B. The p-value is 0.0001 at 4 weeks interval, which shows a statistically significant difference between both groups.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBoth groups showed improvement, but the laser-treated sites exhibited significantly greater reduction in DH at both follow-ups.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe present randomized controlled clinical trial evaluated the short-term efficacy of diode laser therapy combined with desensitising toothpaste (Group A) versus desensitising toothpaste alone (Group B) in the management of dentinal hypersensitivity (DH), using both the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Schiff Cold Air Sensitivity Scale (SCASS) as outcome measures.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe results revealed that both treatment modalities produced significant reductions in VAS and SCASS scores at 1 week and 4 weeks post-treatment. However, the magnitude of symptom relief was notably greater and more sustained in the diode laser group. This was particularly evident in the VAS scores, where intergroup comparison at 4 weeks showed highly significant differences (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), favoring Group A.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThese findings are in concordance with earlier studies that have demonstrated the superior efficacy of diode laser therapy in reducing DH when compared to conventional desensitising agents. \u003cem\u003eYilmaz et al.\u003c/em\u003e (2011) observed a significant reduction in pain scores following diode laser application, attributing the effect to occlusion of dentinal tubules and modulation of pulpal nerve responses through photobiomodulation [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e]. Similarly, \u003cem\u003eGojkov-Vukelic et al.\u003c/em\u003e (2012) reported that 980 nm diode laser application significantly reduced hypersensitivity, even after a single session [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe mechanism by which diode lasers alleviate DH is thought to involve the coagulation and protein precipitation within the dentinal tubules, leading to their occlusion and reduction in fluid flow as proposed by Br\u0026auml;nnstr\u0026ouml;m\u0026rsquo;s hydrodynamic theory [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e]. In addition, diode lasers exhibit biostimulatory effects, which may reduce neural transmission and pain perception [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eConversely, desensitising toothpastes\u0026mdash;typically containing potassium nitrate or stannous fluoride\u0026mdash;act through chemical occlusion of tubules or neural desensitisation by raising the threshold of pain transmission in the pulpal nerves. In our study, Group B also showed significant reductions in VAS and SCASS scores at 1 week, consistent with the findings of \u003cem\u003ePoulsen et al.\u003c/em\u003e (2006), who affirmed the clinical efficacy of potassium nitrate-based dentifrices in reducing DH symptoms [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e]. However, the effect plateaued by 4 weeks in Group B, particularly for SCASS scores, where the intragroup comparison from 1 week to 4 weeks was statistically non-significant (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05), suggesting a limitation in the long-term efficacy of toothpaste alone.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInterestingly, the superior performance of diode laser therapy may also be linked to enhanced sealing of tubules and greater patient comfort due to its non-invasive application and immediate effects. This was echoed by Moritz et al. (1997), who demonstrated long-lasting relief in hypersensitivity following laser therapy [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOur results highlight the clinical advantage of integrating diode laser therapy as an adjunct to conventional desensitising regimens. Given the chronic and often recurrent nature of DH, approaches that provide rapid and sustained relief are of high value in clinical practice.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLimitations of the present study include the relatively short follow-up period (4 weeks) and the subjective nature of hypersensitivity assessment. Long-term randomized trials with larger sample sizes and objective diagnostic modalities such as scanning electron microscopy or thermal imaging could further elucidate the tubule-sealing effects and tissue responses.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFuture research should assess longer-term outcomes and test different laser wavelengths and toothpaste combinations.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eWithin the limitations of this study, diode laser therapy combined with desensitizing toothpaste significantly reduced dentinal hypersensitivity more effectively than toothpaste alone. The split-mouth design confirmed intra-patient benefits, supporting the adjunctive use of diode lasers in routine clinical management of DH.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAuthor A: Concepts, Design, Definition of intellectual content, Literature search, Data acquisition, Data analysis, Manuscript preparation, Manuscript editing, Manuscript review, GuarantorAuthor B: Concepts, Literature search, Data acquisition, Manuscript preparation, Manuscript review, GuarantorAuthor C \u0026amp; D: Concepts, Definition of intellectual content, Literature search, Data acquisition, Data analysis, Manuscript review, GuarantorAuthor E: Literature search, Data acquisition, Guarantor\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAcknowledgement\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eI am truly thankful to Ahmedabad Dental College and Hospital for their continued support throughout this study. My sincere thanks to Dr. Mishal Shah and Dr. Saket Rajput for their valuable guidance and encouragement at every stage. I am also grateful to Dr. Rakesh Patel and Dr.Khushboo R. for their helpful support.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClinical Significance\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIncorporating diode laser therapy into periodontal and preventive practices can provide faster and more reliable relief from DH, enhancing patient satisfaction and compliance.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClinical Trial Number: Not applicable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFunding Declaration : This research received no external funding.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAddy M. Dentine hypersensitivity: new perspectives on an old problem. Int Dent J. 2002;52(S5P1):367\u0026ndash;75. DOI:10.1002/j.1875-595X.2002.tb00936.x\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrchardson R, Gillam DG. Managing dentin hypersensitivity. J Am Dent Assoc. 2006;137(7):990\u0026ndash;8. DOI: 10.14219/jada.archive.2006.0321\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBr\u0026auml;nnstr\u0026ouml;m M. Sensitivity of dentine. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1966;21(4):517\u0026ndash;26. DOI: 10.1016/0030-4220(66)90411-7\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHu ML, Zheng G, Zhang YD, Yan X, Li XC, Lin H. Effect of desensitizing toothpastes on dentine hypersensitivity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Dent. 2018 Aug;75:12-21. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2018.05.012.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJena A, Shashirekha G. Comparison of efficacy of three different desensitizing agents for in-office relief of dentin hypersensitivity: A 4 weeks clinical study. J Conserv Dent. 2015 Sep-Oct;18(5):389-93. doi: 10.4103/0972-0707.164052. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAl-Omari WM, Hammad SM. Use of diode laser in treating dentinal hypersensitivity. J Clin Laser Med Surg. 2004;22(5):275\u0026ndash;80. DOI:10.1034/j.1600-051x.2000.027010715.x\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNammour S, El Mobadder M, Maalouf E, Namour M, Namour A, Rey G, Matamba P, Matys J, Zeinoun T, Grzech-Leśniak K. Clinical Evaluation of Diode (980\u0026thinsp;nm) Laser-Assisted Nonsurgical Periodontal Pocket Therapy: A Randomized Comparative Clinical Trial and Bacteriological Study. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2021 Jan;39(1):10-22. doi: 10.1089/photob.2020.4818.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLesaffre E, Philstrom B, Needleman I, Worthington H. The design and analysis of split-mouth studies: what statisticians and clinicians should know. Stat Med. 2009 Dec 10;28(28):3470-82. doi: 10.1002/sim.3634.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGojkov-Vukelic M, Hadzic S, Zukanovic A, Pasic E, Pavlic V. Application of Diode Laser in the Treatment of Dentine Hypersensitivity. Med Arch. 2016 Dec;70(6):466-469. doi: 10.5455/medarh.2016.70.466-469.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYilmaz HG, Kurtulmus-Yilmaz S, Cengiz E, Bayindir H, Aykac Y. Clinical evaluation of Er,Cr:YSGG and GaAlAs laser therapy for treating dentine hypersensitivity: A randomized controlled clinical trial. J Dent. 2011 Mar;39(3):249-54. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2011.01.003.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGojkov-Vukelic M, Hadzic S, Zukanovic A, Pasic E, Pavlic V. Application of Diode Laser in the Treatment of Dentine Hypersensitivity. Med Arch. 2016 Dec;70(6):466-469. doi: 10.5455/medarh.2016.70.466-469.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrannstrom M. The hydrodynamic theory of dentinal pain: sensation in preparations, caries, and the dentinal crack syndrome. J Endod. 1986 Oct;12(10):453-7. doi: 10.1016/S0099-2399(86)80198-4. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYu CH, Chang YC. Clinical efficacy of the Er:YAG laser treatment on hypersensitive dentin. J Formos Med Assoc. 2014 Jun;113(6):388-91. doi: 10.1016/j.jfma.2013.02.013. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePoulsen S, Errboe M, Lescay Mevil Y, Glenny AM. Potassium containing toothpastes for dentine hypersensitivity. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006 Jul 19;2006(3):CD001476. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001476.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMoritz A, Gutknecht N, Doertbudak O, Goharkhay K, Schoop U, Schauer P, Sperr W. Bacterial reduction in periodontal pockets through irradiation with a diode laser: a pilot study. J Clin Laser Med Surg. 1997 Feb;15(1):33-7. doi: 10.1089/clm.1997.15.33. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Dentinal hypersensitivity, diode laser, desensitizing toothpaste, split-mouth trial, VAS, SCASS","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7127888/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7127888/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBackground\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDentinal hypersensitivity (DH) presents as short, sharp pain from exposed dentin due to thermal, chemical, or tactile stimuli. Standard management includes desensitizing agents, while adjunctive diode laser therapy offers promising outcomes.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAim\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo assess the short-term efficacy of diode laser treatment combined with desensitizing toothpaste compared to desensitizing toothpaste alone in a split-mouth randomized clinical trial.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMethods\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwenty patients with bilateral DH were enrolled in a split-mouth design. Each subject received diode laser therapy (910 nm, 0.5 W, 30 sec) on one side of the arch along with desensitizing toothpaste (Group A), and only desensitizing toothpaste on the contralateral side (Group B). Sensitivity was measured at baseline, 1 week, and 4 weeks using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Schiff Cold Air Sensitivity Scale (SCASS). Statistical analysis was conducted using paired t-tests and repeated measures ANOVA (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eResults\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBoth groups showed significant improvement. However, Group A showed a significantly greater reduction in VAS and SCASS scores at both follow-up intervals compared to Group B (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eConclusion\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDiode laser therapy, combined with desensitizing toothpaste, demonstrated superior short-term efficacy in reducing dental hypersensitivity (DH) compared to toothpaste alone. The split-mouth design validates the intra-patient comparative benefit of adjunctive diode laser therapy.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Short-Term Comparative Evaluation of the Efficacy of Diode Laser with Desensitizing Toothpaste Versus Desensitizing Toothpaste Alone for the Treatment of Dentinal Hypersensitivity – A Split-Mouth Randomized Clinical Trial","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-07-28 10:52:22","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7127888/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"eabd877c-807e-4b2f-ac3e-fd699c88aaad","owner":[],"postedDate":"July 28th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-10-14T23:38:25+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-07-28 10:52:22","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7127888","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7127888","identity":"rs-7127888","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}