Visual Analogue Scale による象牙質知覚過敏症の治療効果判定

抄録

Abstract : Dentin hypersensitivity is a serious problem frequently seen in patients. Therefore reliable and sensitive means of measuring pain are essential for selecting better treatments and assessing the efficacy of treatments.

 A verbal rating scale (VRS) is now commonly used as the pain rating scale for dentin hypersensitivity, though several defects have been pointed out. We already reported that a visual analogue scale (VAS) is very effective in the diagnosis of dentin hypersensitivity. So in this study further examination was done about the application of VAS for assessing the efficacy of treatment in dentin hypersensitivity.

 Twenty six teeth of twenty six patients having dentin hypersensitivity were selected at the first oral examination. The levels of sensitivity to cool air blast stimuli, cold water stimuli and tactile stimuli were evaluated with the VAS and the VRS. Then a newly developed solution containing calcium phosphate for the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity was applied to each tooth surface. The levels of sensitivity to the same stimuli were evaluated with the VAS and the VRS again, and the pain scores obtained from the two methods were compaired. The same examination was done after one week.

 The results obtained were as follows.

 1. Changes in the VAS scores correlated well with changes in the VRS scores.

 2. The VAS was more sensitive than the VRS.

 3. There was an obvious difference on the change of pain among the three sorts of stimulation, and this was shown clearly with the VAS.

 These results suggest that the VAS would be a practical and valid method for assessing the efficacy of treatment in dentin hypersensitivity.