Is the treatment with Er,Cr:YSGG laser reducing Dentin Hypersensitivity? A prospective clinical intervention study

Is the treatment with Er,Cr:YSGG laser reducing Dentin Hypersensitivity? 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A prospective clinical intervention study Xuan Quang Vo, Nguyen Lam Le, Quang Tam Nguyen, Nhut Khue Truong, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8476604/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 Objectives To evaluate the short-term effectiveness of erbium, chromium: yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser therapy in reducing dentin hypersensitivity (DH). Methods A prospective single-arm clinical intervention study was conducted between June 2023 and June 2024. Thirty-six patients presenting with dentin hypersensitivity, comprising a total of 82 sensitive teeth, were treated with Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation. Dentin sensitivity was assessed using tactile stimulation with a Yeaple Probe and thermal stimulation with an air blast. Pain intensity was recorded using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and mechanical sensitivity was measured using Yeaple Probe scores at baseline, 30 minutes, 1 week, and 1 month after treatment. Results A significant reduction in dentin hypersensitivity was observed following Er,Cr:YSGG laser treatment. VAS scores during air stimulation decreased by approximately 58% immediately after treatment (T1), with further reductions noted at 1 week (T2) and 1 month (T3) compared with baseline (p < 0.01). Mechanical sensitivity, assessed by Yeaple Probe scores, showed a significant improvement of approximately 80% immediately after treatment, with continued increases at subsequent follow-up time points. Overall, a 75.6% reduction in VAS scores and a 144.6% increase in Yeaple Probe scores were observed over the study period. No statistically significant differences were detected in treatment outcomes according to gender or age groups at any follow-up time point (p > 0.05). Conclusions Within the limitations of this study, Er,Cr:YSGG laser therapy demonstrated a significant short-term reduction in dentin hypersensitivity, as assessed by both subjective pain perception and objective mechanical sensitivity measurements, with effects maintained for up to one month. Treatment outcomes appeared consistent across different age and gender groups. Further randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are warranted to confirm these findings. Dentin hypersensitivity Er Cr:YSGG Yeaple Probe Visual Analog Scale treatment Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Introduction Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is a prevalent clinical condition characterized by short, sharp pain arising from exposed dentin in response to thermal, mechanical, chemical, or osmotic stimuli.[ 1 ] From a biological perspective, DH is associated with exposure of dentinal tubules following the loss of enamel or cementum, which may result from mechanical abrasion related to improper toothbrushing, erosive wear, parafunctional habits such as bruxism, or periodontal conditions including gingival recession and root surface instrumentation.[ 2 , 3 ] Clinically, DH most frequently affects the cervical regions of canines and premolars, where dentin exposure is commonly observed.[ 4 , 5 ] Various therapeutic strategies have been proposed for managing dentin hypersensitivity, including behavioral modification, dietary counseling, occlusal adjustment, and the application of topical desensitizing agents such as potassium nitrate, potassium oxalate, and calcium phosphate-based materials. Additional approaches involve the use of bonding systems and adhesive materials to occlude exposed dentinal tubules physically. However, these conventional methods may be limited by technique sensitivity, variability in durability, and patient compliance [ 5 ]. Previous clinical studies have reported that Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation can provide rapid and sustained relief of dentin hypersensitivity without inducing adverse thermal effects on dental tissues. For example, Yilmaz et al. demonstrated that Er,Cr:YSGG laser treatment resulted in significant reductions in hypersensitivity that persisted for several months. Nevertheless, variability in laser parameters, outcome measures, and follow-up durations across studies has limited the establishment of standardized clinical protocols.[ 6 ] Because dentin hypersensitivity is inherently subjective, reliable assessment remains challenging. Consequently, both subjective pain scales, such as the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and objective mechanical assessments, such as the Yeaple pressure probe, have been employed to improve the evaluation of treatment outcomes.[ 7 , 8 ] Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the short-term effectiveness of Er,Cr:YSGG laser therapy in reducing dentin hypersensitivity using combined subjective and objective assessment methods. Materials and Methods Study participants Individuals aged 18 years or older who sought treatment for dentin hypersensitivity were considered eligible for inclusion. Only teeth presenting with dentin hypersensitivity and without indications for restorative procedures were included. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to enrollment. Exclusion criteria included patients with systemic diseases or medication use that could influence pain perception or inflammatory responses, such as the intake of analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs, or sedatives within 72 hours before enrollment. Pregnant women, individuals with untreated gastroesophageal reflux disease, active oral infections, or other oral conditions requiring immediate treatment were excluded. In addition, patients who required concurrent dental treatments, including periodontal or orthodontic therapy, or who had undergone previous desensitizing treatment or tooth whitening within the preceding six months were not included. Study methods This study was designed as a prospective single-arm clinical intervention study conducted at the Department of Odonto-Stomatology, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam, between June 2023 and June 2024. Participants were recruited using a non-probability convenience sampling approach. A comprehensive medical and dental history was obtained for each participant to confirm eligibility. To ensure standardized assessment conditions, patients presenting with generalized dentin hypersensitivity involving multiple regions were excluded. Following clinical screening and examination, a total of 36 participants with 82 hypersensitive teeth met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy (approval number: 23.332.HV/PCT-HĐĐĐ) and was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. All participants provided written informed consent before participation. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT06651827). The present study shares the same study population as a previously published article entitled “Clinical Features and comparison of treatment outcomes in patients with dentin hypersensitivity using diode laser and Er,Cr: YSGG laser at Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital” (DOI: 10.51298/vmj.v541i3.10849 ). However, the objectives, study outcomes, and data analyses of the two studies were entirely independent [ 9 ]. Study procedure Assessment of dentin hypersensitivity Dentin sensitivity was assessed using two methods included tactile stimulation with a Yeaple Probe (Model 200A, Electronic Force Sensing Probe, XiniX Study, Inc, Portsmouth, NH) and air stimulation using a dental air syringe. The procedures were standardized, with tactile stimulation conducted first, followed by air stimulation, with a 10-minute interval between the two. Each type of stimulation was performed three times, and the sensitivity score for each tooth was calculated as the average of the three measurements. For tactile sensitivity, the Yeaple Probe was initially set to apply 5g of pressure, with the probe positioned perpendicular to the tooth surface and moved gently from mesial to distal. The pressure was increased incrementally by 5g until the patient experienced sensitivity or until a maximum force of 70g was applied (indicating no sensitivity). This measurement was recorded as the tactile sensitivity threshold, with higher Yeaple Probe values indicating lower sensitivity. Before each test, the probe was calibrated by applying 70g of force to a non-sensitive tooth[ 10 ]. For air blast sensitivity, the air syringe was set to 45 psi and positioned 2 mm perpendicular to the root surface for 3 seconds. The air pressure, distance, and application time were kept consistent across all teeth and measurements. Pain levels were recorded using a modified VAS, where patients marked their pain level on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 representing "no pain" and 10 representing "severe pain".[ 11 , 12 ] Baseline measurements (T0) were obtained before laser treatment. Follow-up assessments were conducted at 30 minutes (T1), 1 week (T2), and 1 month (T3) after treatment. Changes in dentin hypersensitivity over time were also analyzed according to age and gender. Treatment procedure After baseline hypersensitivity assessment, the selected teeth were isolated using a rubber dam. The treatment area was cleaned with cotton rolls, and the tooth surface was left slightly moist. Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation was performed with the laser tip positioned perpendicular to the tooth surface at a non-contact distance of approximately 1 mm. Each tooth surface was irradiated for 30 seconds. The laser parameters were set as follows: wavelength 2780 nm, power output 0.25 W, pulse frequency 50 Hz, pulse duration 140 µs, spot size 600 µm, with no water and no air spray.[ 12 ] Throughout the study period, no additional desensitizing treatments were permitted. All participants were provided with a soft toothbrush and a non-desensitizing toothpaste supplied by the investigators. Immediately before laser application, professional polishing and flossing were performed for all participants to standardize surface conditions. Statistical analysis Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Data distribution normality was assessed using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. Because the study involved repeated measurements of dentin hypersensitivity on the same teeth at multiple time points, within-subject comparisons were conducted. Paired t-tests were applied to compare baseline values with post-treatment measurements at each follow-up time point, consistent with the primary objective of evaluating short-term changes following Er,Cr:YSGG laser treatment in a single-arm exploratory design with a limited sample size. Comparisons between age and gender subgroups were performed using independent t-tests. All statistical tests were two-tailed, and a p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Participant and tooth characteristics A total of 36 participants (13 men and 23 women) completed the study. The mean age of the participants was 44.0 ± 13.57 years. Overall, 82 teeth were identified as presenting dentin hypersensitivity, with a mean of 2.28 ± 0.61 sensitive teeth per participant. Regarding tooth distribution, incisors and canines each accounted for 2.4% of sensitive teeth, whereas premolars represented the majority (59.8%), followed by molars (35.4%). Dentin hypersensitivity was most frequently located in the cervical region (64.6%), while the incisal edge (26.8%) and occlusal surface (8.5%) were less commonly affected. Gingival recession was identified as the most prevalent etiological factor (58.5%), followed by attrition (14.6%) and combined factors (18.3%). The most commonly reported stimuli triggering hypersensitivity were sour foods (54.9%) and cold stimuli (44.4%) (Table 1 ). Effect of Er,Cr:YSGG laser treatment on dentin hypersensitivity Er,Cr:YSGG laser treatment resulted in a significant reduction in dentin hypersensitivity as assessed by both thermal and mechanical stimulation methods. VAS scores obtained during air stimulation showed a significant decrease at all post-treatment time points compared with baseline (p < 0.01). The mean pain reduction immediately after laser irradiation (T1) was approximately 58% relative to baseline (p < 0.001). Further reductions in VAS scores were observed at 1 week (T2) and 1 month (T3) post-treatment, with statistically significant differences compared with both baseline and earlier follow-up points (p < 0.01). Similarly, mechanical sensitivity assessed using the Yeaple pressure probe demonstrated significant improvements following laser treatment. The mean Yeaple probe score increased by approximately 80% immediately after treatment (p < 0.001). Further increases were observed at T2 and T3, with Yeaple scores at each follow-up time point significantly higher than those recorded at the preceding time point (p < 0.001). Overall, across the entire follow-up period, Er,Cr:YSGG laser treatment was associated with a 75.6% reduction in VAS scores and a 144.6% increase in Yeaple probe scores compared with baseline values (Table 2 ). Subgroup analysis by age and gender Subgroup analyses revealed no statistically significant differences in treatment outcomes according to gender or age group at any follow-up time point (T1, T2, or T3). Both male and female participants exhibited comparable reductions in VAS scores over time. Similarly, participants aged > 45 years and ≤ 45 years demonstrated consistent decreases in VAS scores, with no significant differences between groups (p > 0.05). In terms of mechanical sensitivity, Yeaple probe scores increased over time in all subgroups. However, no statistically significant differences were observed between gender or age groups at any follow-up time point (p > 0.05) (Table 3 ). Temporal changes in sensitivity scores Comparisons of post-treatment measurements with baseline values demonstrated a progressive reduction in VAS scores, indicating decreased pain perception following Er,Cr:YSGG laser treatment. Concurrently, Yeaple probe scores showed a corresponding increase over time, reflecting improved mechanical tolerance of hypersensitive teeth (Fig. 2 ). Table 1 Clinical data of dentin hypersensitivity Variable Number Percentage (%) Number of sensitive teeth 2 29 80.6 3 4 11.1 4 3 8.3 Mean ± SD 2.28 ± 0,61 Sensitive teeth Incisors 2 2.4 Canines 2 2.4 Premolars 49 59.8 Molars 29 35.4 Location of the sensitive tooth Cervical area 53 64.6 Incisal edge 22 26.8 Occlusal surface 7 8.5 Causes of sensitivity Gum recession 48 58.5 Attrition 12 14.6 Abrasion 3 3.7 Erosion 4 4.9 Combined factors 15 18.3 Factors triggering sensitivity Cold 32 44.4 Hot 18 22.0 Air 12 14.6 Mechanical stimuli 19 23.2 Sour 45 54.9 Sweet 12 14.6 Other 8 9.8 Table 2 Outcomes of dentin hypersensitivity treatment studied at different time points Mean ± SD P 1 * P 2 * P 3 * VAS Before treatment (T0) 6.8 ± 1.3 - - - 30 minutes post-treatment (T1) 2.87 ± 1.02 < 0.001 - - 1-week post-treatment (T2) 1.94 ± 1.08 < 0.001 < 0.001 - 1-month post-treatment (T3) 1.66 ± 1.21 < 0.001 < 0.001 0.004 Yeaple Before treatment (T0) 22.76 ± 10.79 - - - 30 minutes post-treatment (T1) 40.91 ± 14.82 < 0.001 - - 1-week post-treatment (T2) 47.61 ± 13.03 < 0.001 < 0.001 - 1-month post-treatment (T3) 55.67 ± 9.63 < 0.001 < 0.001 < 0.001 T0: The baseline or initial time point. T1, T2, T3: Different time points of measurement after treatment (30 minutes, 1 week, and 1 month, respectively). P 1 , P 2 , P 3 : Statistical significance values at the following points in time; *Paired Samples Test. Table 3 Comparison of changes in VAS and Yeaple scores pre- and post-treatment based on gender and age T1-T0 T2-T0 T3-T0 Mean ± SD Mean ± SD Mean ± SD VAS Gender Male 3.84 ± 1.05 4.8 ± 0.96 5 ± 1.04 Female 4.09 ± 1.07 4.97 ± 1.05 5.36 ± 1.14 p* 0.289 0.440 0.139 Age group > 45 4 ± 1.06 4.89 ± 1.01 5.23 ± 1.11 ≤ 45 3.86 ± 1.06 4.83 ± 0.98 5.03 ± 1.07 p* 0.502 0.696 0.609 Yeaple Gender Male 18.94 ± 12.39 25.27 ± 10.93 32.43 ± 9.95 Female 17 ± 13.3 24.24 ± 12.52 33.64 ± 11.15 p* 0.549 0.771 0.402 Age group > 45 18.83 ± 12.47 25.64 ± 10.92 34.04 ± 10.14 ≤ 45 17.26 ± 13.18 23.8 ± 12.39 31.4 ± 10.7 p* 0.583 0.479 0.258 T1, T2, T3: Different time points of measurement after treatment (30 minutes, 1 week, and 1 month, respectively). *Independent Samples T Test. Discussion The present study demonstrated a significant short-term reduction in dentin hypersensitivity following Er,Cr:YSGG laser treatment, as assessed by both thermal (VAS) and mechanical (Yeaple probe) stimulation methods. These findings are consistent with previous clinical studies reporting the effectiveness of Er,Cr:YSGG laser therapy in reducing dentin hypersensitivity using similar laser parameters and short-term follow-up periods [ 6 , 8 , 11 – 13 ]. Several studies have suggested that the therapeutic effect of Er,Cr:YSGG laser is primarily related to its wavelength (2780 nm), which is highly absorbed by water, leading to reduced dentinal fluid movement and partial occlusion of exposed dentinal tubules [ 6 , 14 ]. Experimental and clinical investigations have reported morphological changes of the dentin surface following Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation, including narrowing or partial obliteration of dentinal tubules, without inducing adverse thermal damage when low-power settings are applied [ 6 , 11 , 15 – 17 ]. These laser–tissue interactions are considered to play a key role in reducing dentin hypersensitivity by limiting hydrodynamic stimulation of pulpal nerve endings. The effectiveness observed in the present study is in agreement with findings from randomized clinical trials and systematic reviews, which have reported significant short-term reductions in dentin hypersensitivity following Er,Cr:YSGG laser treatment [ 12 – 14 , 18 , 19 ]. However, previous meta-analyses have also highlighted heterogeneity among studies and suggested that the strength of evidence may be limited by variations in study design, laser parameters, and follow-up duration [ 20 ]. Consequently, while the clinical effectiveness of Er,Cr:YSGG laser therapy appears promising, standardized treatment protocols and long-term outcomes remain to be established. In the present study, a low-power, non-contact Er,Cr:YSGG laser protocol (0.25 W) was applied to minimize the risk of ablative or thermal effects, as higher power settings have been associated with dentin ablation and structural alterations [23, 24]. The observed improvements in dentin hypersensitivity support the notion that effective symptom relief can be achieved without exceeding the ablation threshold, consistent with previous clinical and experimental observations [ 6 , 11 , 12 ]. This study has several limitations. First, the single-arm design without a control or placebo group limits the ability to draw definitive conclusions regarding treatment superiority and does not allow exclusion of potential placebo effects. Second, the relatively small sample size and single-center convenience sampling may restrict the generalizability of the findings. Third, the follow-up period was limited to one month, and therefore the long-term durability of the therapeutic effect could not be assessed. In addition, although standardized assessment tools were used, dentin hypersensitivity remains inherently subjective, which may have influenced outcome variability. Within these limitations, the present findings suggest that Er,Cr:YSGG laser therapy may provide effective short-term relief of dentin hypersensitivity using a minimally invasive approach. The applied low-power, non-contact laser protocol demonstrated consistent improvements in both subjective pain perception and objective mechanical sensitivity across age and gender groups. Er,Cr:YSGG laser therapy may therefore be considered a useful adjunct in the clinical management of dentin hypersensitivity, while further randomized controlled studies with longer follow-up are required to establish standardized treatment protocols and confirm long-term effectiveness. Conclusion Within the limitations of this study, Er,Cr:YSGG laser treatment was associated with a significant short-term reduction in dentin hypersensitivity, as demonstrated by improvements in both VAS and Yeaple probe scores over a one-month follow-up period. Treatment effects appeared consistent across age and gender groups, while further randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm long-term efficacy. Clinical trial registration This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT06651827). Registration date 27 October 2024. Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam (Approval No. 23.332.HV/PCT-HĐĐĐ). The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants before their inclusion in the study. Consent to participate All participants provided written informed consent prior to participation. Consent for publication Not applicable. Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Declarations of conflicting interest The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. Funding statement The authors have declared that there was no funding for this study. Author Contribution This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Data Availability Data and Materials are made available upon request to the authors. 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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-8476604","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":587238704,"identity":"6471628e-ebf9-445a-b903-3d909215840e","order_by":0,"name":"Xuan Quang Vo","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Xuan","middleName":"Quang","lastName":"Vo","suffix":""},{"id":587238705,"identity":"3eca5dab-be08-4b08-83a5-84f1d2963f96","order_by":1,"name":"Nguyen Lam Le","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA+0lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACPiQG4wMYRwKfFjYkBrMBQwKJWtgkiNPC3nv4NW+bTR4b++m0ip8/DkebMzAfvM3DcDgPpxaec2nWvG1pxWw8udtu9iQczt3ZwJZsDdRSjFOLRI6ZMW/b4cQ2htxttxmAWjYc4DGT5mFIS2zApUX+DUjL/8Q2/rfbiiFa+L/h1yLBY/yYt+1AYptE7jZmqC1sQC02uLXw5JgxzjmXDNTydrNkT1p67s5mNmPLOQa4tfCznzH+8KbMLrGfP3fjhx821rnb2Zsf3nhTIYFTC9htjGxIXANmMIlbPRAwf2D4g6wFr+JRMApGwSgYiQAApl9RnFy9jAEAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Nguyen","middleName":"Lam","lastName":"Le","suffix":""},{"id":587238710,"identity":"3d43ab2b-b5c6-4aa1-96b0-c8d0fe9dd2d7","order_by":2,"name":"Quang Tam Nguyen","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Quang","middleName":"Tam","lastName":"Nguyen","suffix":""},{"id":587238713,"identity":"6c0bdcde-34b6-40ed-9cd3-9d7728a4f58d","order_by":3,"name":"Nhut Khue Truong","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Nhut","middleName":"Khue","lastName":"Truong","suffix":""},{"id":587238716,"identity":"bf740b99-f092-4c55-ba9e-4b1415984d6e","order_by":4,"name":"Vu Phuong Khanh Le","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Vu","middleName":"Phuong Khanh","lastName":"Le","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-12-30 02:23:32","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8476604/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8476604/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":102438583,"identity":"98c67618-e2c2-4185-9695-97dbbdb888b1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-02-11 16:34:59","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":50089,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eLevels of dentin hypersensitivity with the air stimulus and the mechanical probe stimulus at the different evaluation time-points after treatment\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8476604/v1/8f3fdc96ba4ab4125c73b677.png"},{"id":102438584,"identity":"9f318c95-029b-4241-bf56-7744b9e9c422","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-02-11 16:34:59","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":29096,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eChanges in VAS and Yeaple scores pre- and post-treatmenttreatment. T1, T2, T3: Different time points of measurement after treatment (30 minutes, 1 week, and 1 month, respectively)\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8476604/v1/4637ee0cdae2326d3edc01cc.png"},{"id":103376237,"identity":"3d5df314-3952-42a8-9840-7adb97bde056","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-02-25 03:55:49","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":883319,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8476604/v1/808d1662-7b5a-4051-8f0a-6f16fa05b1a2.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Is the treatment with Er,Cr:YSGG laser reducing Dentin Hypersensitivity? A prospective clinical intervention study","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eDentin hypersensitivity (DH) is a prevalent clinical condition characterized by short, sharp pain arising from exposed dentin in response to thermal, mechanical, chemical, or osmotic stimuli.[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e] From a biological perspective, DH is associated with exposure of dentinal tubules following the loss of enamel or cementum, which may result from mechanical abrasion related to improper toothbrushing, erosive wear, parafunctional habits such as bruxism, or periodontal conditions including gingival recession and root surface instrumentation.[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e] Clinically, DH most frequently affects the cervical regions of canines and premolars, where dentin exposure is commonly observed.[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eVarious therapeutic strategies have been proposed for managing dentin hypersensitivity, including behavioral modification, dietary counseling, occlusal adjustment, and the application of topical desensitizing agents such as potassium nitrate, potassium oxalate, and calcium phosphate-based materials. Additional approaches involve the use of bonding systems and adhesive materials to occlude exposed dentinal tubules physically. However, these conventional methods may be limited by technique sensitivity, variability in durability, and patient compliance [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrevious clinical studies have reported that Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation can provide rapid and sustained relief of dentin hypersensitivity without inducing adverse thermal effects on dental tissues. For example, Yilmaz et al. demonstrated that Er,Cr:YSGG laser treatment resulted in significant reductions in hypersensitivity that persisted for several months. Nevertheless, variability in laser parameters, outcome measures, and follow-up durations across studies has limited the establishment of standardized clinical protocols.[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBecause dentin hypersensitivity is inherently subjective, reliable assessment remains challenging. Consequently, both subjective pain scales, such as the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and objective mechanical assessments, such as the Yeaple pressure probe, have been employed to improve the evaluation of treatment outcomes.[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e] Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the short-term effectiveness of Er,Cr:YSGG laser therapy in reducing dentin hypersensitivity using combined subjective and objective assessment methods.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Materials and Methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eStudy participants\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndividuals aged 18 years or older who sought treatment for dentin hypersensitivity were considered eligible for inclusion. Only teeth presenting with dentin hypersensitivity and without indications for restorative procedures were included. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to enrollment.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExclusion criteria included patients with systemic diseases or medication use that could influence pain perception or inflammatory responses, such as the intake of analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs, or sedatives within 72 hours before enrollment. Pregnant women, individuals with untreated gastroesophageal reflux disease, active oral infections, or other oral conditions requiring immediate treatment were excluded. In addition, patients who required concurrent dental treatments, including periodontal or orthodontic therapy, or who had undergone previous desensitizing treatment or tooth whitening within the preceding six months were not included.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eStudy methods\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis study was designed as a prospective single-arm clinical intervention study conducted at the Department of Odonto-Stomatology, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam, between June 2023 and June 2024. Participants were recruited using a non-probability convenience sampling approach.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA comprehensive medical and dental history was obtained for each participant to confirm eligibility. To ensure standardized assessment conditions, patients presenting with generalized dentin hypersensitivity involving multiple regions were excluded. Following clinical screening and examination, a total of 36 participants with 82 hypersensitive teeth met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy (approval number: 23.332.HV/PCT-HĐĐĐ) and was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. All participants provided written informed consent before participation. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT06651827).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe present study shares the same study population as a previously published article entitled \u0026ldquo;Clinical Features and comparison of treatment outcomes in patients with dentin hypersensitivity using diode laser and Er,Cr: YSGG laser at Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital\u0026rdquo; (DOI: \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003e10.51298/vmj.v541i3.10849\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.51298/vmj.v541i3.10849\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e). However, the objectives, study outcomes, and data analyses of the two studies were entirely independent [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eStudy procedure\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"Sec6\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAssessment of dentin hypersensitivity\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eDentin sensitivity was assessed using two methods included tactile stimulation with a Yeaple Probe (Model 200A, Electronic Force Sensing Probe, XiniX Study, Inc, Portsmouth, NH) and air stimulation using a dental air syringe. The procedures were standardized, with tactile stimulation conducted first, followed by air stimulation, with a 10-minute interval between the two. Each type of stimulation was performed three times, and the sensitivity score for each tooth was calculated as the average of the three measurements. For tactile sensitivity, the Yeaple Probe was initially set to apply 5g of pressure, with the probe positioned perpendicular to the tooth surface and moved gently from mesial to distal. The pressure was increased incrementally by 5g until the patient experienced sensitivity or until a maximum force of 70g was applied (indicating no sensitivity). This measurement was recorded as the tactile sensitivity threshold, with higher Yeaple Probe values indicating lower sensitivity. Before each test, the probe was calibrated by applying 70g of force to a non-sensitive tooth[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e]. For air blast sensitivity, the air syringe was set to 45 psi and positioned 2 mm perpendicular to the root surface for 3 seconds. The air pressure, distance, and application time were kept consistent across all teeth and measurements. Pain levels were recorded using a modified VAS, where patients marked their pain level on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 representing \"no pain\" and 10 representing \"severe pain\".[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBaseline measurements (T0) were obtained before laser treatment. Follow-up assessments were conducted at 30 minutes (T1), 1 week (T2), and 1 month (T3) after treatment. Changes in dentin hypersensitivity over time were also analyzed according to age and gender.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTreatment procedure\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter baseline hypersensitivity assessment, the selected teeth were isolated using a rubber dam. The treatment area was cleaned with cotton rolls, and the tooth surface was left slightly moist.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEr,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation was performed with the laser tip positioned perpendicular to the tooth surface at a non-contact distance of approximately 1 mm. Each tooth surface was irradiated for 30 seconds. The laser parameters were set as follows: wavelength 2780 nm, power output 0.25 W, pulse frequency 50 Hz, pulse duration 140 \u0026micro;s, spot size 600 \u0026micro;m, with no water and no air spray.[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThroughout the study period, no additional desensitizing treatments were permitted. All participants were provided with a soft toothbrush and a non-desensitizing toothpaste supplied by the investigators. Immediately before laser application, professional polishing and flossing were performed for all participants to standardize surface conditions.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eStatistical analysis\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eStatistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Data distribution normality was assessed using the Kolmogorov\u0026ndash;Smirnov test. Because the study involved repeated measurements of dentin hypersensitivity on the same teeth at multiple time points, within-subject comparisons were conducted. Paired t-tests were applied to compare baseline values with post-treatment measurements at each follow-up time point, consistent with the primary objective of evaluating short-term changes following Er,Cr:YSGG laser treatment in a single-arm exploratory design with a limited sample size. Comparisons between age and gender subgroups were performed using independent t-tests. All statistical tests were two-tailed, and a p-value\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05 was considered statistically significant.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec10\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eParticipant and tooth characteristics\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA total of 36 participants (13 men and 23 women) completed the study. The mean age of the participants was 44.0\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;13.57 years. Overall, 82 teeth were identified as presenting dentin hypersensitivity, with a mean of 2.28\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.61 sensitive teeth per participant.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eRegarding tooth distribution, incisors and canines each accounted for 2.4% of sensitive teeth, whereas premolars represented the majority (59.8%), followed by molars (35.4%). Dentin hypersensitivity was most frequently located in the cervical region (64.6%), while the incisal edge (26.8%) and occlusal surface (8.5%) were less commonly affected. Gingival recession was identified as the most prevalent etiological factor (58.5%), followed by attrition (14.6%) and combined factors (18.3%). The most commonly reported stimuli triggering hypersensitivity were sour foods (54.9%) and cold stimuli (44.4%) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eEffect of Er,Cr:YSGG laser treatment on dentin hypersensitivity\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eEr,Cr:YSGG laser treatment resulted in a significant reduction in dentin hypersensitivity as assessed by both thermal and mechanical stimulation methods.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eVAS scores obtained during air stimulation showed a significant decrease at all post-treatment time points compared with baseline (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01). The mean pain reduction immediately after laser irradiation (T1) was approximately 58% relative to baseline (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001). Further reductions in VAS scores were observed at 1 week (T2) and 1 month (T3) post-treatment, with statistically significant differences compared with both baseline and earlier follow-up points (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSimilarly, mechanical sensitivity assessed using the Yeaple pressure probe demonstrated significant improvements following laser treatment. The mean Yeaple probe score increased by approximately 80% immediately after treatment (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001). Further increases were observed at T2 and T3, with Yeaple scores at each follow-up time point significantly higher than those recorded at the preceding time point (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOverall, across the entire follow-up period, Er,Cr:YSGG laser treatment was associated with a 75.6% reduction in VAS scores and a 144.6% increase in Yeaple probe scores compared with baseline values (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec12\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSubgroup analysis by age and gender\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSubgroup analyses revealed no statistically significant differences in treatment outcomes according to gender or age group at any follow-up time point (T1, T2, or T3). Both male and female participants exhibited comparable reductions in VAS scores over time. Similarly, participants aged\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;45 years and \u0026le;\u0026thinsp;45 years demonstrated consistent decreases in VAS scores, with no significant differences between groups (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn terms of mechanical sensitivity, Yeaple probe scores increased over time in all subgroups. However, no statistically significant differences were observed between gender or age groups at any follow-up time point (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec13\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemporal changes in sensitivity scores\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eComparisons of post-treatment measurements with baseline values demonstrated a progressive reduction in VAS scores, indicating decreased pain perception following Er,Cr:YSGG laser treatment. Concurrently, Yeaple probe scores showed a corresponding increase over time, reflecting improved mechanical tolerance of hypersensitive teeth (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e).\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\u003eClinical data of dentin hypersensitivity\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=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNumber\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePercentage (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNumber of sensitive teeth\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e80.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.28\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,61\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSensitive teeth\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIncisors\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCanines\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePremolars\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e49\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e59.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMolars\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLocation of the sensitive tooth\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCervical area\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e53\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e64.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIncisal edge\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOcclusal surface\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCauses of sensitivity\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGum recession\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e48\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e58.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAttrition\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAbrasion\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eErosion\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCombined factors\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"6\" rowspan=\"7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFactors triggering sensitivity\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCold\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e44.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHot\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAir\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMechanical stimuli\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSour\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e45\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e54.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSweet\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOther\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.8\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 \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\u003eOutcomes of dentin hypersensitivity treatment studied at different time points\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e*\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e*\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e*\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"5\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVAS\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBefore treatment (T0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.8\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30 minutes post-treatment (T1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.87\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.02\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1-week post-treatment (T2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.94\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.08\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1-month post-treatment (T3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.66\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.004\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"5\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eYeaple\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBefore treatment (T0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22.76\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;10.79\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30 minutes post-treatment (T1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40.91\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;14.82\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1-week post-treatment (T2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e47.61\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;13.03\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1-month post-treatment (T3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e55.67\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;9.63\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"5\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eT0: The baseline or initial time point. T1, T2, T3: Different time points of measurement after treatment (30 minutes, 1 week, and 1 month, respectively).\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003e1\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003e, \u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003e2\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003e, \u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003e3\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003e: \u003cem\u003eStatistical significance values at the following points in time; *Paired Samples Test.\u003c/em\u003e\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 \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eComparison of changes in VAS and Yeaple scores pre- and post-treatment based on gender and age\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eT1-T0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eT2-T0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eT3-T0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"5\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eVAS\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGender\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.84\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.05\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.8\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.96\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.04\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.09\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.07\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.97\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.05\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.36\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ep*\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.289\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.440\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.139\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAge group\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;45\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.06\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.89\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.23\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.11\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026le;\u0026thinsp;45\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.86\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.06\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.83\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.98\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.03\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.07\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ep*\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.502\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.696\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.609\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"5\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eYeaple\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGender\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.94\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;12.39\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25.27\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;10.93\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32.43\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;9.95\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;13.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24.24\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;12.52\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e33.64\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;11.15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ep*\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.549\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.771\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.402\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAge group\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;45\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.83\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;12.47\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25.64\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;10.92\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e34.04\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;10.14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026le;\u0026thinsp;45\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17.26\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;13.18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23.8\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;12.39\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e31.4\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;10.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ep*\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.583\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.479\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.258\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"5\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eT1, T2, T3: Different time points of measurement after treatment (30 minutes, 1 week, and 1 month, respectively).\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e*Independent Samples T Test.\u003c/em\u003e\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 \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe present study demonstrated a significant short-term reduction in dentin hypersensitivity following Er,Cr:YSGG laser treatment, as assessed by both thermal (VAS) and mechanical (Yeaple probe) stimulation methods. These findings are consistent with previous clinical studies reporting the effectiveness of Er,Cr:YSGG laser therapy in reducing dentin hypersensitivity using similar laser parameters and short-term follow-up periods [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR12\" citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSeveral studies have suggested that the therapeutic effect of Er,Cr:YSGG laser is primarily related to its wavelength (2780 nm), which is highly absorbed by water, leading to reduced dentinal fluid movement and partial occlusion of exposed dentinal tubules [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e]. Experimental and clinical investigations have reported morphological changes of the dentin surface following Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation, including narrowing or partial obliteration of dentinal tubules, without inducing adverse thermal damage when low-power settings are applied [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR16\" citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e]. These laser\u0026ndash;tissue interactions are considered to play a key role in reducing dentin hypersensitivity by limiting hydrodynamic stimulation of pulpal nerve endings.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe effectiveness observed in the present study is in agreement with findings from randomized clinical trials and systematic reviews, which have reported significant short-term reductions in dentin hypersensitivity following Er,Cr:YSGG laser treatment [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR13\" citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e]. However, previous meta-analyses have also highlighted heterogeneity among studies and suggested that the strength of evidence may be limited by variations in study design, laser parameters, and follow-up duration [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e]. Consequently, while the clinical effectiveness of Er,Cr:YSGG laser therapy appears promising, standardized treatment protocols and long-term outcomes remain to be established.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn the present study, a low-power, non-contact Er,Cr:YSGG laser protocol (0.25 W) was applied to minimize the risk of ablative or thermal effects, as higher power settings have been associated with dentin ablation and structural alterations [23, 24]. The observed improvements in dentin hypersensitivity support the notion that effective symptom relief can be achieved without exceeding the ablation threshold, consistent with previous clinical and experimental observations [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study has several limitations. First, the single-arm design without a control or placebo group limits the ability to draw definitive conclusions regarding treatment superiority and does not allow exclusion of potential placebo effects. Second, the relatively small sample size and single-center convenience sampling may restrict the generalizability of the findings. Third, the follow-up period was limited to one month, and therefore the long-term durability of the therapeutic effect could not be assessed. In addition, although standardized assessment tools were used, dentin hypersensitivity remains inherently subjective, which may have influenced outcome variability.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWithin these limitations, the present findings suggest that Er,Cr:YSGG laser therapy may provide effective short-term relief of dentin hypersensitivity using a minimally invasive approach. The applied low-power, non-contact laser protocol demonstrated consistent improvements in both subjective pain perception and objective mechanical sensitivity across age and gender groups. Er,Cr:YSGG laser therapy may therefore be considered a useful adjunct in the clinical management of dentin hypersensitivity, while further randomized controlled studies with longer follow-up are required to establish standardized treatment protocols and confirm long-term effectiveness.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eWithin the limitations of this study, Er,Cr:YSGG laser treatment was associated with a significant short-term reduction in dentin hypersensitivity, as demonstrated by improvements in both VAS and Yeaple probe scores over a one-month follow-up period. Treatment effects appeared consistent across age and gender groups, while further randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm long-term efficacy.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec16\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eClinical trial registration\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT06651827). Registration date 27 October 2024.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e \u003ch2\u003eEthics approval and consent to participate\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam (Approval No. 23.332.HV/PCT-HĐĐĐ). The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants before their inclusion in the study.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eConsent to participate\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eAll participants provided written informed consent prior to participation.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eConsent for publication\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eNot applicable.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eCompeting interests\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe authors declare that they have no competing interests.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eDeclarations of conflicting interest\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe authors have declared that no competing interests exist.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFunding statement\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe authors have declared that there was no funding for this study.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eData Availability\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eData and Materials are made available upon request to the authors.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKopycka-Kedzierawski DT, Meyerowitz C, Litaker MS, Chonowski S, Heft MW, Gordan VV et al (2017) Management of Dentin Hypersensitivity by National Dental Practice-Based Research Network practitioners: results from a questionnaire administered prior to initiation of a clinical study on this topic. 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J Endod 37(3):297\u0026ndash;303\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\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":"Dentin hypersensitivity, Er, Cr:YSGG, Yeaple Probe, Visual Analog Scale, treatment","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8476604/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8476604/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eObjectives\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo evaluate the short-term effectiveness of erbium, chromium: yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser therapy in reducing dentin hypersensitivity (DH).\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethods\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA prospective single-arm clinical intervention study was conducted between June 2023 and June 2024. Thirty-six patients presenting with dentin hypersensitivity, comprising a total of 82 sensitive teeth, were treated with Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation. Dentin sensitivity was assessed using tactile stimulation with a Yeaple Probe and thermal stimulation with an air blast. Pain intensity was recorded using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and mechanical sensitivity was measured using Yeaple Probe scores at baseline, 30 minutes, 1 week, and 1 month after treatment.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA significant reduction in dentin hypersensitivity was observed following Er,Cr:YSGG laser treatment. VAS scores during air stimulation decreased by approximately 58% immediately after treatment (T1), with further reductions noted at 1 week (T2) and 1 month (T3) compared with baseline (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01). Mechanical sensitivity, assessed by Yeaple Probe scores, showed a significant improvement of approximately 80% immediately after treatment, with continued increases at subsequent follow-up time points. Overall, a 75.6% reduction in VAS scores and a 144.6% increase in Yeaple Probe scores were observed over the study period. No statistically significant differences were detected in treatment outcomes according to gender or age groups at any follow-up time point (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05).\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusions\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eWithin the limitations of this study, Er,Cr:YSGG laser therapy demonstrated a significant short-term reduction in dentin hypersensitivity, as assessed by both subjective pain perception and objective mechanical sensitivity measurements, with effects maintained for up to one month. Treatment outcomes appeared consistent across different age and gender groups. Further randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are warranted to confirm these findings.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Is the treatment with Er,Cr:YSGG laser reducing Dentin Hypersensitivity? A prospective clinical intervention study","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-02-11 16:34:54","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8476604/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":"bfbf8a97-c372-4303-a918-9a3bf045fd82","owner":[],"postedDate":"February 11th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-02-25T03:55:08+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-02-11 16:34:54","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8476604","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8476604","identity":"rs-8476604","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}