Clinical study of gingival recession and dentine hypersensitivity

Park, Ki Young; Kim, Sung Jo; Choi, Jeom Il; Lee, Ju Youn

Abstract

Gingival recession is clinically manifested by an apical displacement of the gingival tissue and dentin hypersensitivity is often used to describe a painful condition in which exposed dentin is unduly sensitive to intraoral stimuli. The objects of this study were primarily to investigate the prevalence and distribution of gingival recession and hypersensitivity and secondarily to determine whether a relationship exists between gingival recession and hypersensitivity. The study population was 195 patients (102 males, 93 females) who were attended the department of periodontology, Pusan National University Hospital. 189 patients exhibited gingival recession at least more than 1 tooth, the prevalence was 96.9%. The maxillary and mandibular first premolar and mandibular incisors had the highest prevalence. The majority of patients (139 patients, 71.3%) were diagnosed as having dentin hypersensitivity. Dentin hypersensitivity was determined to 3 seconds application of cold air to the exposed root surface after isolating the test tooth and was commonest in maxillary and mandibular first premolars and mandibular incisors. Relationship between recession and hypersensitivity was analyzed using chi-square test (p=0.05), significant relation (p=0.000) was existed. Gingival recession was more severe, the prevalence of hypersensitivity was higher.