Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Clinical Practices Regarding Dentine Hypersensitivity: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Dental Practitioners

Background/aim: Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is a common clinical condition characterized by a short, sharp pain that originates from exposed dentin. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and clinical practices regarding DH among dental practitioners. Methods A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 401 dentists and specialists from July 2025 to August 2025. A validated questionnaire containing 30 questions was distributed to assess demographic variables, knowledge, attitudes, clinical practices, perceived barriers, and preventive practices in the diagnosis and management of DH. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics (version 25.0), and p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The study gathered 401 (91.13% response rate) responses and revealed that the participants had moderate general knowledge about DH, with 28.1% demonstrating a “good” level of knowledge. Most participants were aware of the hydrodynamic theory (57.2%) and local factors, such as enamel erosion (78.1%), although some still had misconceptions, especially with regard to systemic factors (44.3%). Higher knowledge levels were significantly associated with being female and those with postgraduate qualifications (p < 0.05). Attitudes were generally positive, with 61.2% acknowledging DH’s impact on patients’ life quality. However, only 36.6% felt very confident in managing the DH cases. Diagnosis primarily relied on patient history (89.3%). The form of treatment most used was fluoride varnish (75.9%), and advanced modalities, such as lasers (13.4%), were infrequently used. Major barriers were diagnostic difficulties (67.2%) and noncompliance of patients (49.3%), with 83.6% of participants advocating for more education on DH. Conclusion Yemeni dental professionals have a moderate level of knowledge and a positive attitude toward DH but suffer great difficulties in implementing this knowledge in a confident evidence-based practice. The demonstrated knowledge-practice gap necessitates urgent attention for structured educational interventions in the form of context-based clinical guidelines and the provision of improved means of obtaining advanced therapeutic materials to enhance the quality of DH care in this resource-poor setting.