Why does dentine hypersensitivity remain undertreated despite being common and manageable? A qualitative study of patient experience and system-level barriers in Australia.

Authors

Nilesh Torwane, Helena Silveira Schuch, Manori Dhanapriyanka, Loc Do, Diep Ha

Published in

Journal of dentistry. Pages 106989. Aug 18, 2026. Epub Aug 18, 2026.

Abstract

Dentine hypersensitivity (DH) affects approximately one in three dentate adults yet remains poorly managed. This study aimed to generate a comprehensive, patient-centred account of how Australian adults experience, self-manage, and seek care for DH, and to identify system-level barriers to adequate management.
Eighteen Australian adults aged 26-67 years with clinically confirmed DH completed individual semi-structured interviews via Zoom, conducted by a single trained qualitative oral health researcher (N.T.), and analysed using Thematic Framework Analysis. Independent dual coding of a 22% subsample yielded Cohen's kappa = 0.83. Reporting followed the SRQR checklist.
Six themes were identified, covering DH sensation, dietary adaptation, emotional responses, self-management strategies, financial burden, and interactions with the dental system. Seventeen of 18 participants reported dietary or behavioural modifications, yet nine simultaneously described DH as having no daily impact, a contradiction suggesting response shift: participants had gradually adjusted to long-standing restrictions and no longer noticed them as limitations. Desensitising toothpaste was used by 89% through self-initiation; no participant received proactive DH screening; and three independently discovered evidence-based leave-on application without clinical instruction. Financial barriers converted a treatable condition into irreversible tooth loss through cost-driven extractions.
DH imposes a chronic, complex burden systematically underestimated by patients and clinicians alike. Proactive screening, structured communication, and equitable access to professional care are required to close the gap between guideline-recommended and actual management.

PMID:
42612961
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 19 Aug 2026.

Read full publication at:
Please sign in to see all details.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this publication? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.