COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT DESENSITIZING AGENTS IN VITAL TOOTH PREPARATION – A CLINICAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Dentinal hypersensitivity is a common complication following vital tooth preparation for fixed prosthodontic restorations, leading to postoperative discomfort and reduced patient satisfaction. The application of dentinal desensitizing agents may help to minimize this sensitivity. Aim: To compare the clinical effectiveness of two dentinal desensitizing agents in reducing postoperative dentinal hypersensitivity following vital tooth preparation. Materials and Methods: A prospective, randomized in-vivo clinical study was conducted on 30 patients requiring vital tooth preparation for fixed prosthodontic treatment. Participants were randomly allocated into three groups (n=10): Group I (GLUMA), Group II (FGM Desensibilize KF), and Group III (Control group). Dentinal hypersensitivity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) immediately after tooth preparation, at 5 minutes, 1 day, and 7 days following application. Statistical analysis was performed using repeated-measures ANOVA, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey's post hoc test, with significance set at p<0.05. Results: Both desensitizer groups demonstrated a significant reduction in VAS scores compared with the control group at all follow-up intervals (p<0.001). At 7 days, Group I and Group II showed 93.9% and 90.2% reductions in hypersensitivity, respectively, compared with 62.0% in the control group. Conclusion: The application of dentinal desensitizing agents following vital tooth preparation significantly reduces postoperative hypersensitivity compared with untreated controls. GLUMA demonstrated rapid and sustained reductions in pain scores, with comparable clinical efficacy than FGM Desensibilize KF. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating desensitizers into routine prosthodontic protocols to enhance patient comfort and satisfaction.