Abstract

Dentine hypersensitivity is one of the most commonly encountered yet frequently underdiagnosed conditions in general dental practice. Characterised by short, sharp pain arising from exposed dentine in response to thermal, tactile, osmotic, or evaporative stimuli, it presents a diagnostic challenge precisely because it can mimic — or coexist with — a range of other causes of dental pain. This webinar takes a structured, clinically practical approach to the condition, beginning with the hydrodynamic mechanism that underpins sensitivity symptoms and the key pathways through which patients develop exposed, patent dentinal tubules — including erosive wear, gingival recession, abrasion, periodontal therapy, and whitening. Participants will be guided through a systematic assessment pathway covering history-taking, trigger identification, stimulus testing, and the exclusion of differential diagnoses such as caries, cracked tooth, pulpitis, and post-operative sensitivity. The session then moves into management, covering both behavioural prevention strategies and in-chair and at-home treatment options, including the role of desensitising toothpastes. Two fluoride-free home-care examples are illustrated through patient cases, demonstrating how product selection should be driven by clinical rationale and individual patient profile.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Define dentine hypersensitivity and explain the hydrodynamic mechanism by which exposed dentinal tubules give rise to short, sharp pain responses.
• Distinguish dentine hypersensitivity from other common causes of dental pain — including caries, cracked tooth syndrome, pulpitis, and post-operative sensitivity — using a structured clinical assessment pathway.
• Identify the primary aetiological factors contributing to dentine hypersensitivity, including erosive wear, gingival recession, abrasion, periodontal therapy history, and whitening-related irritation.
• Apply a combined management approach that integrates behavioural prevention, in-chair intervention, and evidence-informed at-home care to address both the cause and symptoms of hypersensitivity.
• Select and recommend appropriate sensitivity-focused home-care products based on individual patient presentation, clinical rationale, and an understanding of key active ingredients including hydroxyapatite and potassium ions.

Supported by