Arginine-containing desensitization toothpaste for dentin hypersensitivity: a Meta analysis

Meta analysis was used to evaluate and compare the efficacy of treatment of dentin hypersensitivity with arginine desensitization toothpaste and commonly used desensitization toothpaste.

A computerized search of Wanfang, PubMed, web of science, and Cochrane library databases was performed, and a manual retrieval was supplemented. Randomized control trials (RCT) about arginine-containing desensitization toothpaste for dentine hypersensitivity were collected, then data extraction and quality assessment were performed by 2 raters independently. Meta-analysis was carried out by RevMan 5.3 software.

A total of 7 RCTs were included. All the results were evaluated by the tactile sensitivity test and the air blast test. The mean and standard deviation of each treatment group were analyzed by the random effects model. Meta-analysis results showed there was statistical significance in the therapeutic effects between arginine-containing desensitization toothpaste and potassium-containing desensitization toothpaste(tactile sensitivity test to evaluate: SMD = 1.83, 95% CI BP, 2.58], P＜0.05; cold air assessment: SMD = -1.19, 95% CI [-1.69, -0.69], P＜0.05); However, there was no statistical significance between arginine-containing desensitization toothpaste and strontium-containing desensitization toothpaste (tactile sensitivity test to evaluate: SMD = 0.68, 95% CI [-1.59, 2.96], P＞0.05; cold air assessment: SMD = -0.94, 95% CI [-2.28, 0.40], P＞0.05).

It shows that arginine-containing desensitization toothpaste has greater effects than potassium-containing desensitization toothpaste for dentin hypersensitivity, but no better effects than strontium-containing desensitization toothpaste.