| Summary: | Abstract Objectives: To evaluate a 0.454% stannous fluoride/5% sodium tripolyphosphate (STP) toothpaste’s ability to provide relief from dentinal hypersensitivity (DH) applied using ‘focused brushing.’ Materials and methods: In two randomised, examiner-blind, parallel-group studies, a SnF2/STP toothpaste was applied by brushing two selected sensitive teeth before 1 min whole-mouth brushing, compared to 1 min whole-mouth brushing only, with a negative control toothpaste. DH was assessed via evaporative (air) (Schiff scale) and tactile (Yeaple probe) stimuli after 7 and 14 d of twice-daily brushing. Results: In total, 141 (Study 1)/142 (Study 2) participants were randomised. In Study 1, the test treatment significantly reduced DH at 7/14 d versus baseline (7/14 d Schiff difference: −0.74 [−0.84,−0.65]/−1.39 [−1.54,−1.23]; tactile: 6.00 [4.88,7.13]/15.30 [13.34,17.26]); whereas the Control treatment did not (7/14 d Schiff difference −0.03 [−0.13,0.06]/−0.10 [−0.25,0.06]; tactile: 0.77 [−0.36,1.90]/0.77 [−1.20,2.74]). Differences between Test and Control were statistically significant (p < 0.0001 all cases). In Study 2, both treatments reduced DH compared to baseline by both measures, but there were no significant between-treatment differences. Toothpastes were generally well-tolerated. Discussion and conclusions: Previous studies and Study 1 support SnF2/5% STP toothpaste efficacy; Study 2 results may have been influenced by placebo/Hawthorne effects. DH study design needs to, where possible, negate such effects.
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