Clinical effects of fluoride foam and fluoride varnish on root sensitivity after subgingival scaling and root plan-ing

JIA Hui-mei; CHU Yi; GAO Jin-hua; WANG Shuai-shuai; LIU Feng

Abstract：Objective To evaluate the efficacy of fluoride foam and fluoride varnish in treatment of root sensitivity after subgingival scaling and root planing. Methods Subjects were selected from patients complaining of moderate root sen-sitivity in at least one incisor 1 week after subgingival scaling and root planing. Totally 209 patients(503 teeth)were se-lected. Random stratified sampling was performed according to sex,age and number of teeth. All the subjects were divid-ed into three groups:Group A-control group,using saline as placebo;Group B-fluoride varnish,Group C-fluoride foam. The improvement of root sensitivity was evaluated by a visual analogue scale(VAS)before and 1 week,and 4 weeks af-ter desensitizing treatment. Length of clinical operation time was recorded for each patient. Results The VAS values were comparable for each group at baseline,with no significant statistical difference. After desensitizing treatment,sig-nificant differences in VAS scores between saline and fluoride varnish\foam group were observed(P < 0.05),while there were no statistically significant differences between fluoride varnish and fluoride foam at the three examination time points. Fluoride varnish group had significantly longer average clinical operation time than other groups(P<0.05). Con-clusion Fluoride foam and fluoride varnish may be effective in decreasing root sensitivity after subgingival scaling and root planing. In consideration of clinical operation time,fluoride foam seems to be more applicable and less time-con-suming.