DENTINAL HYPERSENSITIVITY DURING TOOTH PREPARATION AMONG PATIENTS VISITING DENTAL OPD IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Background: Dentinal hypersensitivity during tooth preparation is a problem in dentistry. This study aimed to compare dentinal hypersensitivity before and after tooth preparation between gender and different age groups. Methods: This observational study was carried out in Shree Birendra Hospital, Chhauni, Kathmandu from May to December 2021. A total of 80 patients visiting dental OPD for fixed partial denture participated in this study through convenience sampling. Each abutment tooth received tactile and thermal stimuli and the measurement of sensitivity was carried out using 10cm visual analog scale before and after tooth preparation. The results were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon signed rank tests with SPSS version 16. Results: The mean of dentinal hypersensitivity scores were higher among females in comparison to male (1.03±0.59 before tooth preparation; 7.14±1.61 after tooth preparation). The differences in the sensitivity between gender was statistically significant (z: -3.00, p: 0.003 before tooth preparation and z: -3.76, p:0.000 after tooth preparation). The sensitivity was higher in participants below 40 years (0.86±0.51 before tooth preparation; 6.84±1.39 after tooth preparation). However, the differences in sensitivity between participants below and above 40 years were statistically insignificant. The sensitivity score when compared before and after tooth preparation in the participants was statistically highly significant (p<0.001). Conclusions: The dentinal hypersensitivity is more in women both before and after tooth preparation which if well explored helps to form basis for modification of tooth preparation procedure in target patient.