Short-Term Comparative Evaluation of the Efficacy of Diode Laser with Desensitizing Toothpaste Versus Desensitizing Toothpaste Alone for the Treatment of Dentinal Hypersensitivity – A Split-Mouth Randomized Clinical Trial

Background Dentinal hypersensitivity (DH) presents as short, sharp pain from exposed dentin due to thermal, chemical, or tactile stimuli. Standard management includes desensitizing agents, while adjunctive diode laser therapy offers promising outcomes. Aim To assess the short-term efficacy of diode laser treatment combined with desensitizing toothpaste compared to desensitizing toothpaste alone in a split-mouth randomized clinical trial. Methods Twenty patients with bilateral DH were enrolled in a split-mouth design. Each subject received diode laser therapy (910 nm, 0.5 W, 30 sec) on one side of the arch along with desensitizing toothpaste (Group A), and only desensitizing toothpaste on the contralateral side (Group B). Sensitivity was measured at baseline, 1 week, and 4 weeks using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Schiff Cold Air Sensitivity Scale (SCASS). Statistical analysis was conducted using paired t-tests and repeated measures ANOVA (p < 0.05). Results Both groups showed significant improvement. However, Group A showed a significantly greater reduction in VAS and SCASS scores at both follow-up intervals compared to Group B (p < 0.05). Conclusion Diode laser therapy, combined with desensitizing toothpaste, demonstrated superior short-term efficacy in reducing dental hypersensitivity (DH) compared to toothpaste alone. The split-mouth design validates the intra-patient comparative benefit of adjunctive diode laser therapy.