Prevalence and Risk Factors of Dentin Hypersensitivity and Association with Oral Health Related Quality of Life

Background: Dentin hypersensitivity is a common complaint in dental clinics. Some studies have reported that dentin hypersensitivity was found in adult populations with a prevalence ranging from 2.8%-84.0%. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence and possible causal factors including oral hygiene status and diet. The relationships between dentin hypersensitivity and oral health related quality of life will also be evaluated.

Methods: The study was cross-sectional designed and divided into 2 parts. The participates in the 1st part were invited from general population. Each participate completed a structured questionnaire which includes demographic data, oral hygiene status, diet, and oral health-related quality of life assessment. The 2nd part would be performed at Department of Dentistry of National Taiwan University Hospital. Each subject completed the questionnaire and further intra-oral examination. The examination would be performed by administering a blast of air, cold water and tactile test to confirm the diagnosis of dentin hypersensitivity.

Results: We obtained a total number of 1070 data during Nov. 2010 to Apr. 2011. In the 1st part, the prevalence of dentin hypersensitivity from questionnaire was 36.2% (269/743). The mean score indicated that patients with dentin hypersensitivity reported considerably more impaired oral health related quality of life (48.0±6.3 vs 52.8±5.5, p value < 0.0001) than subjects without dentin hypersensitivity. In multiple regression analyses considering gender, age, education level, and oral hygiene habits, the score was significantly lower in patients with dentin hypersensitivity (p value < 0.0001), especially the pain/discomfort domain. In the 2nd part, 85.0% (278/327) was diagnosed dentin hypersensitivity from intra-oral examination. The patients who thought they got dentin hypersensitivity had 8.8±6.0 sensitized teeth, compared to those who did not think they had dentin hypersensitivity, who had 3.7±4.3 sensitized teeth. The most frequent sensitized teeth were 1st molars and premolars. The risk ratio of dentin hypersensitivity was increased by age, periodontitis, periodontal treatment, removable partial dentures wearing, cervical abrasion and gingival recession, and decreased by periodical oral exams (p value < 0.05). The consistency between the result from the questionnaire and the diagnosis in clinical exam was 0.283. Furthermore, the total numbers of sensitized teeth was correlated to the oral health related quality of life score. In multiple regression analyses, the more sensitized tooth was diagnosed, the lower score would be recorded in questionnaire (p value < 0.05).

Conclusion: We clearly demonstrated that the dentin hypersensitivity was associated with a poor oral health related quality of life scores among adult Taiwanese. Patients who were older, had periodontitis, periodontal treatment, removable partial denture wearing, cervical abrasion or gingival recession would have higher risk to get dentin hypersensitivity. Further studies on the improvement of quality of life scores by treating dental hypersensitivity are warranted.