desensitizing efficacy of foam containing potassium nitrate 5% and toothpaste containing strontium acetate in dentin hypersensitivity: an eight-week clinical study

background and aims . the aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical desensitizing effects of potassium nitrate and strontium acetate in reduction of hypersensitivity. materials and methods . thirty eight patients who presented dental hypersensitivity were selected and randomly allo-cated into two groups. group i: patients who were treated by potassium nitrate 5% foam, and group ii: patients that were treated by strontium acetate toothpaste. subjects in each group were requested to use their foam or dentifrice twice daily for 2 months. dentinal hypersensitivity examinations were conducted at baseline using the visual analogue scale (vas) and dry ice spray, first immediately after treatment and then after 4 and 8 weeks of using the products. the findings were analyzed using paired t-test and anova test. results . vas score did not show any significant difference between the two groups before treatment. analysis of study findings showed no significant difference between the two groups in each period of treatment (p-value> 0.05), but both groups showed significant differences before intervention compared to different intervals of treatment (time 0, 4w, 8w)(p-value conclusion . both potassium nitrate and strontium acetate are effective in decreasing tooth hypersensitivity and their desensitizing effect will increase by time passing, but none has preference over the other.