Table 3.
Responses to dentine hypersensitivity (DH) knowledge-based questions
| Variable | Yes | No | Do not know | Total (n) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | ||
| Description of DH pain type | ||||
| Spontaneous throbbing pain from a tooth | 143 (19.8) | 552 (76.6) | 26 (3.6) | 721 |
| Intermittent short sharp pain from a tooth | 490 (62.8) | 273 (35.0) | 17 (2.2) | 780 |
| Stimulated short sharp pain from a tooth | 887 (92.8) | 55 (5.8) | 14 (1.5) | 956 |
| Chronic dull pain from a tooth | 87 (12.6) | 562 (81.6) | 40 (5.8) | 689 |
| Aetiological factors | ||||
| Enamel loss | 994 (97.0) | 22 (2.1) | 9 (0.9) | 1,025 |
| Gingival recession | 910 (89.8) | 92 (9.1) | 11 (1.1) | 1,013 |
| Toothbrushing | 829 (83.7) | 147 (14.8) | 14 (1.4) | 990 |
| Acidic diets | 919 (90.6) | 81 (8.0) | 14 (1.4) | 1,014 |
| Bruxism | 908 (90.4) | 75 (7.5) | 21 ((2.1) | 1,004 |
| Cemental loss | 868 (89.2) | 76 (7.8) | 29 (3.0) | 973 |
| Tooth bleaching | 773 (80.3) | 127 (13.2) | 63 (6.5) | 963 |
| Attrition | 908 (95.9) | 37 (3.9) | 2 (0.2) | 947 |
| Abrasion | 882 (95.6) | 34 (3.7) | 7 0.8) | 923 |
| Alcoholism | 254 (31.0) | 378 (46.1) | 188 (22.9) | 820 |
| Vomiting | 631 (71.8) | 191 (21.7) | 57 (6.5) | 879 |
| Erosion | 866 (93.1) | 54 (5.8) | 10 (1.1) | 930 |
| Periodontal pocket | 432 (51.7) | 306 (36.6) | 97 (11.6) | 835 |
| Medications | 290 (36.6) | 284 (35.8) | 219 (27.6) | 793 |
| Predisposing factors | ||||
| Enamel loss | 881 (91.8) | 71 (7.4) | 8 (0.8) | 960 |
| Gingival recession | 919 (95.3) | 38 (3.9) | 7 (0.7) | 964 |
| Toothbrushing | 863 (90.5) | 80 (8.4) | 11 (1.2) | 954 |
| Acidic diets | 921 (95.4) | 27 (2.8) | 17 (1.8) | 965 |
| Bruxism | 869 (91.5) | 62 (6.5) | 19 (2.0) | 950 |
| Cemental loss | 785 (85.1) | 110 (11.9) | 27 (2.9) | 922 |
| Tooth bleaching | 749 (84.1) | 88 (9.9) | 54 (6.1) | 891 |
| Attrition | 776 (88.4) | 92 (10.5) | 10 (1.1) | 878 |
| Abrasion | 765 (88.1) | 90 (10.4) | 13 (1.5) | 868 |
| Alcoholism | 368 (45.9) | 279 (34.8) | 154 (19.2) | 801 |
| Vomiting | 644 (76.9) | 132 (15.8) | 61 (7.3) | 837 |
| Erosion | 750 (87.6) | 90 (10.5) | 16 (1.9) | 856 |
| Periodontal pocket | 491 (63.7) | 207 (26.8) | 73 (9.5) | 771 |
| Medications | 338 (45.7) | 220 (29.8) | 181 (24.5) | 739 |
| Mechanisms for treatment of DH | ||||
| Blocking dentinal tubules | 991 (97.1) | 10 (1.0) | 20 (2.0) | 1,021 |
| Altering number of dentinal tubules | 202 (24.2) | 368 (44.2) | 263 (31.6) | 833 |
| Modification or blocking of the pulpal nerve response | 678 (74.3) | 122 (13.4) | 112 (12.3) | 912 |