it is defined as  characteristic pain arising from exposed dentine typically in response to a variety of stimuli , for example , thermal , evaporative , tactile , osmotic , or chemical , which can not be ascribed to any other form of dental defect or pathology.  a modification to this definition was suggested by the canadian advisory board on dentine hypersensitivity ( 2003 ) , which suggested that  disease it is reasonable to surmise that with the increasing life expectancy of the population with a functional natural dentition prone to tooth wear , dentinal hypersensitivity is likely to become a more frequent dental complaint and an increase in requests for treatment would thus follow . yet , conclusive evidence of successful treatment regimens still eludes us despite a multitude of products available for treatment . recently , a new material , calcium sodium phosphosilicate , was introduced for the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity . it acts by chemically reacting with the hydroxyapatite of the teeth and promotes the formation of a hydroxycarbonate apatite layer . it may be useful in treating demineralized tooth structure or in preventing further demineralization . this study was designed with an aim to evaluate the efficacy of calcium sodium phosphosilicate in the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity and compare its efficacy with potassium nitrate , which is considered the gold standard for the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity . a special proforma was designed for the study , so as to have systematic and methodological recording of all the information and observations . the relevant data comprising the chief complaint , preliminary history , oral hygiene habits , etc . , were recorded in the special proforma . this line represents the limit of pain a patient might experience from any external stimulus . no pain is represented at one end of the line ( marked 0 ) and severe pain at the other end ( marked 10 ) . subjects were asked to place a mark on the 10-cm line , indicating the intensity of their current level of dentin hypersensitivity . the cold air stimulus was approximately a 1-s blast from the air syringe of the dental unit . the cold air was directed at the exposed surface of the selected tooth that was isolated from the adjacent teeth using cotton rolls . a constant distance ( 3 mm ) was kept between the tooth surface and the tip of the air syringe for the assessment of hypersensitivity . the subjects were asked to rate their response to the stimulus on the vas scale . cold water was taken in a syringe and applied to the exposed dentin surface while the neighboring teeth were isolated during testing using the operator 's fingers and cotton rolls . the subjects were asked to rate their response to the stimulus on the vas scale . a period of at least 5 min was allowed between the two stimuli on each tooth . after the sensitivity scores were recorded at baseline , scaling and root planing was also carried out . subjects were then divided into two groups randomly : group i subjects were given dentifrice containing 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate and group ii subjects were given dentifrice containing 5% potassium nitrate by the colleague . subjects were advised to use the toothpaste with a soft bristle toothbrush twice a day . as this was a single - blind study , the operator did not know which toothpastes were given to the subjects . subjects were also directed to refrain from any other dentifrice or mouth rinse during the trial , but were allowed to continue their normal oral hygiene practice . hypersensitivity scores were again recorded on cold air stimulus and cold water stimulus as mentioned before . the subjective signs like allergic reaction , burning sensation , ulceration , and taste , and objective signs like redness of mucosa and staining of teeth were also checked at 3 weeks . they were recalled after 3 weeks and the hypersensitivity scores were again taken , i.e. 6 weeks from baseline . intra - group analysis was done by wilcoxon signed - rank test and inter - group analysis by mann the cold air stimulus was approximately a 1-s blast from the air syringe of the dental unit . the cold air was directed at the exposed surface of the selected tooth that was isolated from the adjacent teeth using cotton rolls . a constant distance ( 3 mm ) was kept between the tooth surface and the tip of the air syringe for the assessment of hypersensitivity . the subjects were asked to rate their response to the stimulus on the vas scale . cold water was taken in a syringe and applied to the exposed dentin surface while the neighboring teeth were isolated during testing using the operator 's fingers and cotton rolls . the subjects were asked to rate their response to the stimulus on the vas scale . a period of at least 5 min was allowed between the two stimuli on each tooth . after the sensitivity scores were recorded at baseline , scaling and root planing was also carried out . subjects were then divided into two groups randomly : group i subjects were given dentifrice containing 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate and group ii subjects were given dentifrice containing 5% potassium nitrate by the colleague . subjects were advised to use the toothpaste with a soft bristle toothbrush twice a day . as this was a single - blind study , the operator did not know which toothpastes were given to the subjects . subjects were also directed to refrain from any other dentifrice or mouth rinse during the trial , but were allowed to continue their normal oral hygiene practice . hypersensitivity scores were again recorded on cold air stimulus and cold water stimulus as mentioned before . the subjective signs like allergic reaction , burning sensation , ulceration , and taste , and objective signs like redness of mucosa and staining of teeth were also checked at 3 weeks . they were recalled after 3 weeks and the hypersensitivity scores were again taken , i.e. 6 weeks from baseline . intra - group analysis was done by wilcoxon signed - rank test and inter - group analysis by mann fourteen subjects had a vas score of 6 on air stimulus , which reduced to a score of 1 in maximum subjects ( 21 ) after 3 weeks of usage of dentifrice containing 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate . also , a vas score of 1 was maintained by 16 subjects after 3 weeks of discontinuation of dentifrice containing 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate , i.e. 6 weeks from baseline . therefore , there was statistically significant reduction of dentinal hypersensitivity between baseline and 3 week and between baseline and 6 week on air stimulus in group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) . [ graph 1 ] comparison of vas scores at baseline and 3 week and at baseline and 6 week with air stimulus in group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) thirteen subjects had a vas score of 6 on air stimulus , which reduced to a vas score of 1 in 14 subjects after 3 weeks of usage of dentifrice containing 5% potassium nitrate . also , the vas score increased to 4 in 12 subjects after 3 weeks of discontinuation of dentifrice containing 5% potassium nitrate , i.e. 6 weeks from baseline . therefore , there was statistically significant reduction of dentinal hypersensitivity between baseline and 3 week and between baseline and 6 week on air stimulus in group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) . [ graph 2 ] comparison of vas scores at baseline and 3 week and at baseline and 6 week with air stimulus in group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) eleven subjects had a vas score of 7 on water stimulus , which reduced to a vas score of 1 in maximum subjects ( 19 ) after 3 weeks of usage of dentifrice containing 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate . also , the vas score increased to 2 in 14 subjects after 3 weeks of discontinuation of dentifrice containing 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate , i.e. 6 weeks from baseline . but it was still less than the vas scores at baseline . therefore , there was statistically significant reduction of dentinal hypersensitivity between baseline and 3 week and between baseline and 6 week on water stimulus in group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) . [ graph 3 ] comparison of vas scores at baseline and 3 week and at baseline and 6 week with water stimulus in group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) thirteen subjects had a vas score of 7 on water stimulus , which reduced to a vas score of 3 in maximum subjects ( 16 ) after 3 weeks of usage of dentifrice containing 5% potassium nitrate . also , the vas score increased to 5 in 15 subjects after 3 weeks of discontinuation of dentifrice containing 5% potassium nitrate , i.e. 6 weeks from baseline . but the vas score at 6 weeks was still less compared to the baseline score . therefore , there was statistically significant reduction of dentinal hypersensitivity between baseline and 3 week and between baseline and 6 week on water stimulus in group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) . [ graph 4 ] comparison of vas scores at baseline and 3 week and at baseline and 6 week with water stimulus in group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) the median1 vas score at baseline for both the groups was 6 . by using mann therefore , there was no significant difference between group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) at baseline [ table 1 ] . comparison of air stimulus at baseline with respect to vas between groups i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) the median vas score for group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) reduced to 1 , whereas for group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) , it reduced to 2 at 3 weeks . by using mann - whitney u test , there was significant difference between group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) at 3 week . also , the vas score of group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) was significantly lower than the vas score of group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) [ table 2 ] . comparison of air stimulus at 3 weeks with respect to vas between groups i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) the median vas score of group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) increased to 2 , whereas for group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) , it increased to 5 at 6 weeks . by using mann whitney u test , p < 0.05 was obtained . therefore , there was statistically significant difference between group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) at 6 week . also , the vas score of group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) was significantly lower than the vas score of group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) [ table 3 ] . comparison of air stimulus at 6 weeks with respect to vas between groups i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) the median vas score for both the groups was 7 at baseline . by using mann therefore , there was no significant difference between group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) at baseline [ table 4 ] . comparison of water stimulus at baseline with respect to vas between groups i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) the median vas score of group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) decreased to 1 at 3 weeks , whereas for group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) , it decreased to 3 at 3 weeks . by using mann there was significant difference between group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) at 3 week . also , the vas score of group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) was significantly lower than the vas score of group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) [ table 5 ] . comparison of water stimulus at 3 weeks with respect to vas between groups i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) the median vas score increased to 3 in group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and 5 in group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) at 6 weeks , which was still less than the baseline score . by using mann whitney u test , p < 0.05 was obtained . therefore , there was significant difference between group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) at 6 week . also , the vas score of group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) was significantly lower than the vas score of group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) [ table 6 ] . comparison of water stimulus at 6 weeks with respect to vas between groups i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) no untoward reaction was noted with either of the dentifrices . fourteen subjects had a vas score of 6 on air stimulus , which reduced to a score of 1 in maximum subjects ( 21 ) after 3 weeks of usage of dentifrice containing 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate . also , a vas score of 1 was maintained by 16 subjects after 3 weeks of discontinuation of dentifrice containing 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate , i.e. 6 weeks from baseline . therefore , there was statistically significant reduction of dentinal hypersensitivity between baseline and 3 week and between baseline and 6 week on air stimulus in group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) . [ graph 1 ] comparison of vas scores at baseline and 3 week and at baseline and 6 week with air stimulus in group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) thirteen subjects had a vas score of 6 on air stimulus , which reduced to a vas score of 1 in 14 subjects after 3 weeks of usage of dentifrice containing 5% potassium nitrate . also , the vas score increased to 4 in 12 subjects after 3 weeks of discontinuation of dentifrice containing 5% potassium nitrate , i.e. 6 weeks from baseline . therefore , there was statistically significant reduction of dentinal hypersensitivity between baseline and 3 week and between baseline and 6 week on air stimulus in group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) . [ graph 2 ] comparison of vas scores at baseline and 3 week and at baseline and 6 week with air stimulus in group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) eleven subjects had a vas score of 7 on water stimulus , which reduced to a vas score of 1 in maximum subjects ( 19 ) after 3 weeks of usage of dentifrice containing 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate . also , the vas score increased to 2 in 14 subjects after 3 weeks of discontinuation of dentifrice containing 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate , i.e. 6 weeks from baseline . but it was still less than the vas scores at baseline . therefore , there was statistically significant reduction of dentinal hypersensitivity between baseline and 3 week and between baseline and 6 week on water stimulus in group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) . [ graph 3 ] comparison of vas scores at baseline and 3 week and at baseline and 6 week with water stimulus in group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) thirteen subjects had a vas score of 7 on water stimulus , which reduced to a vas score of 3 in maximum subjects ( 16 ) after 3 weeks of usage of dentifrice containing 5% potassium nitrate . also , the vas score increased to 5 in 15 subjects after 3 weeks of discontinuation of dentifrice containing 5% potassium nitrate , i.e. 6 weeks from baseline . but the vas score at 6 weeks was still less compared to the baseline score . therefore , there was statistically significant reduction of dentinal hypersensitivity between baseline and 3 week and between baseline and 6 week on water stimulus in group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) . [ graph 4 ] comparison of vas scores at baseline and 3 week and at baseline and 6 week with water stimulus in group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) fourteen subjects had a vas score of 6 on air stimulus , which reduced to a score of 1 in maximum subjects ( 21 ) after 3 weeks of usage of dentifrice containing 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate . also , a vas score of 1 was maintained by 16 subjects after 3 weeks of discontinuation of dentifrice containing 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate , i.e. 6 weeks from baseline . therefore , there was statistically significant reduction of dentinal hypersensitivity between baseline and 3 week and between baseline and 6 week on air stimulus in group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) . [ graph 1 ] comparison of vas scores at baseline and 3 week and at baseline and 6 week with air stimulus in group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) thirteen subjects had a vas score of 6 on air stimulus , which reduced to a vas score of 1 in 14 subjects after 3 weeks of usage of dentifrice containing 5% potassium nitrate . also , the vas score increased to 4 in 12 subjects after 3 weeks of discontinuation of dentifrice containing 5% potassium nitrate , i.e. 6 weeks from baseline . therefore , there was statistically significant reduction of dentinal hypersensitivity between baseline and 3 week and between baseline and 6 week on air stimulus in group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) . [ graph 2 ] comparison of vas scores at baseline and 3 week and at baseline and 6 week with air stimulus in group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) eleven subjects had a vas score of 7 on water stimulus , which reduced to a vas score of 1 in maximum subjects ( 19 ) after 3 weeks of usage of dentifrice containing 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate . also , the vas score increased to 2 in 14 subjects after 3 weeks of discontinuation of dentifrice containing 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate , i.e. 6 weeks from baseline . but it was still less than the vas scores at baseline . therefore , there was statistically significant reduction of dentinal hypersensitivity between baseline and 3 week and between baseline and 6 week on water stimulus in group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) . [ graph 3 ] comparison of vas scores at baseline and 3 week and at baseline and 6 week with water stimulus in group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) thirteen subjects had a vas score of 7 on water stimulus , which reduced to a vas score of 3 in maximum subjects ( 16 ) after 3 weeks of usage of dentifrice containing 5% potassium nitrate . also , the vas score increased to 5 in 15 subjects after 3 weeks of discontinuation of dentifrice containing 5% potassium nitrate , i.e. 6 weeks from baseline . but the vas score at 6 weeks was still less compared to the baseline score . therefore , there was statistically significant reduction of dentinal hypersensitivity between baseline and 3 week and between baseline and 6 week on water stimulus in group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) . [ graph 4 ] comparison of vas scores at baseline and 3 week and at baseline and 6 week with water stimulus in group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) the median1 vas score at baseline for both the groups was 6 . by using mann therefore , there was no significant difference between group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) at baseline [ table 1 ] . comparison of air stimulus at baseline with respect to vas between groups i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) the median vas score for group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) reduced to 1 , whereas for group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) , it reduced to 2 at 3 weeks . by using mann - whitney u test , there was significant difference between group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) at 3 week . also , the vas score of group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) was significantly lower than the vas score of group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) [ table 2 ] . comparison of air stimulus at 3 weeks with respect to vas between groups i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) the median vas score of group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) increased to 2 , whereas for group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) , it increased to 5 at 6 weeks . by using mann whitney u test , p < 0.05 was obtained . therefore , there was statistically significant difference between group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) at 6 week . also , the vas score of group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) was significantly lower than the vas score of group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) [ table 3 ] . comparison of air stimulus at 6 weeks with respect to vas between groups i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) the median vas score for both the groups was 7 at baseline . by using mann therefore , there was no significant difference between group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) at baseline [ table 4 ] . comparison of water stimulus at baseline with respect to vas between groups i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) the median vas score of group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) decreased to 1 at 3 weeks , whereas for group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) , it decreased to 3 at 3 weeks . by using mann there was significant difference between group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) at 3 week . also , the vas score of group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) was significantly lower than the vas score of group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) [ table 5 ] . comparison of water stimulus at 3 weeks with respect to vas between groups i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) the median vas score increased to 3 in group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and 5 in group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) at 6 weeks , which was still less than the baseline score . by using mann therefore , there was significant difference between group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) at 6 week . also , the vas score of group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) was significantly lower than the vas score of group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) [ table 6 ] . comparison of water stimulus at 6 weeks with respect to vas between groups i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) the median1 vas score at baseline for both the groups was 6 . by using mann therefore , there was no significant difference between group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) at baseline [ table 1 ] . comparison of air stimulus at baseline with respect to vas between groups i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) the median vas score for group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) reduced to 1 , whereas for group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) , it reduced to 2 at 3 weeks . by using mann - whitney u test , there was significant difference between group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) at 3 week . also , the vas score of group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) was significantly lower than the vas score of group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) [ table 2 ] . comparison of air stimulus at 3 weeks with respect to vas between groups i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) the median vas score of group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) increased to 2 , whereas for group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) , it increased to 5 at 6 weeks . by using mann whitney u test , p < 0.05 was obtained . therefore , there was statistically significant difference between group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) at 6 week . also , the vas score of group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) was significantly lower than the vas score of group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) [ table 3 ] . comparison of air stimulus at 6 weeks with respect to vas between groups i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) the median vas score for both the groups was 7 at baseline . by using mann therefore , there was no significant difference between group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) at baseline [ table 4 ] . comparison of water stimulus at baseline with respect to vas between groups i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) the median vas score of group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) decreased to 1 at 3 weeks , whereas for group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) , it decreased to 3 at 3 weeks . by using mann there was significant difference between group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) at 3 week . also , the vas score of group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) was significantly lower than the vas score of group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) [ table 5 ] . comparison of water stimulus at 3 weeks with respect to vas between groups i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) the median vas score increased to 3 in group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and 5 in group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) at 6 weeks , which was still less than the baseline score . by using mann whitney u test , p < 0.05 was obtained . therefore , there was significant difference between group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) at 6 week . also , the vas score of group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) was significantly lower than the vas score of group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) [ table 6 ] . comparison of water stimulus at 6 weeks with respect to vas between groups i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) life expectancy is increasing and patients are retaining their natural teeth for longer time due to effective treatment strategies for caries and periodontal disease . consequently , there is a high risk of cervical dentin hypersensitivity as a result of physiologic gingival recession with aging . the concept of tubular occlusion as a method of dentin desensitization is a logical conclusion from the hydrodynamic theory . calcium sodium phosphosilicate is a recently introduced desensitizing agent which acts by occluding the dentinal tubules and also resists acid decalcification . burwell et al . concluded in their study that calcium sodium phosphosilicate adheres to an exposed dentin surface and reacts with it to form a mineralized layer and provide continual occlusion of the dentin tubules . therefore , it is supposed to have a long - lasting effect . in view of the above observations , in this study , the subjects were asked to discontinue with their respective dentifrices after 3 weeks of usage . the vas scores were again recorded after 3 weeks of discontinuation , i.e. 6 weeks from baseline . there was statistically significant reduction of dentinal hypersensitivity between baseline and 3 week and between baseline and 6 week , on air and water stimuli in both groups . but dentinal hypersensitivity reduction in group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) was statistically significant when compared to group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) at 3 weeks , i.e. after 3 weeks usage of respective dentifrices on both air and water stimuli . the results of the present study are in accordance with a previous study conducted by pradeep et al . in 110 patients . the study showed a significant decrease in dentin hypersensitivity at 2 weeks and 6 weeks treatment with calcium sodium phosphosilicate , but with a higher reduction in hypersensitivity score for air stimulus as compared to water stimulus . it was also observed that there was significant difference between group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) and group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) at 6 week . also , the vas score of group i ( 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate ) was significantly lower than the vas score of group ii ( 5% potassium nitrate ) . therefore , it can be suggested that 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate has a prolonged effect in managing dentinal hypersensitivity , even after discontinuation , compared to 5% potassium nitrate . the results of the study show that 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate dentifrice was comparable to 5% potassium nitrate dentifrice in reducing the dentinal hypersensitivity scores ; however , calcium sodium phosphosilicate resulted in better reduction in vas scores after 3 weeks . it was observed that the hypersensitivity scores increased over a period of 3 weeks after cessation of use of toothpaste . this may be partially attributed to the gradual reopening of dentin tubules after the withdrawal of desensitizing toothpaste . but the hypersensitivity scores still remained below the baseline scores at the end of the study . the increase in hypersensitivity score with 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate was significantly less compared to 5% potassium nitrate after 3 weeks of cessation , i.e. 6 weeks from baseline . therefore , at the end of the study , better results were obtained with 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate compared to 5% potassium nitrate . it can be concluded that under the conditions of this study , the group using 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate showed statistically significant reduction in dentinal hypersensitivity symptoms even after 3 weeks of discontinuing its use . thus , it can be suggested that 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate is not only significantly effective but also can also maintain its effects even after its discontinuation . as calcium sodium phosphosilicate showed greater reduction in dentinal hypersensitivity compared to highly efficacious 5% potassium nitrate and also tends to maintain it even after discontinuation , it may provide a new direction for the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity .
background : calcium sodium phosphosilicate is a recently introduced desensitizing agent which acts by occluding the dentinal tubules and also resists acid decalcification . 
 this study was designed to assess the efficacy of a new toothpaste containing 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate for the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity and also compare it with 5% potassium nitrate.materials and methods : sixty patients with the chief complaint of dentinal hypersensitivity were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups . 
 the visual analog scale ( vas ) scores were taken for water and air stimuli at baseline , 3 weeks after usage of the respective toothpaste , and 3 weeks after discontinuation of the respective toothpaste.results:both the groups showed reduction in hypersensitivity scores at 3 weeks and 6 weeks for air stimulus and cold water . 
 the calcium sodium phosphosilicate group , however , showed significantly reduction in hypersensitivity compared to the potassium nitrate group at any time point for both measures of hypersensitivity.conclusion:the 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate group showed immense reduction in dentinal hypersensitivity symptoms . 
 the 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate showed prolonged effects even after discontinuation as compared to 5% potassium nitrate , due to its dentinal tubular occlusion property .