Evidence-based recommendations for diagnosing and managing dentine hypersensitivity in clinical practice: insights from the Middle East and Africa

Ali Cekici¹Amynah Shaikh²Arwa Alsayed³Aslan Yasar Gokbuget⁴Ebrahim Patel⁵Hesham Marei⁶Manal Awad⁷Ninette Banday⁸Nour A Habib⁹Samira M Osailan¹⁰Tim Theuri¹¹Tope Emmanuel Adeyemi¹²Charlie R. Parkinson¹³Ahmed Hamdy¹⁴Juhi Thomas^15*

• ¹Periodontology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Türkiye
• ²Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, Dow International Dental College, Karachi 74200, Pakistan
• ³Consultant Periodontics and Dental Implants, Head of Saudi Implant Fellowship Program, Dar Al Uloom University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• ⁴Prosthodontis & Orthodontist & GP (PGG) Dental Clinic, Istanbul, Türkiye
• ⁵Clinical Manager, Wits Oral Health Centre/School of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Gauteng Department of Health/University of the Witwatersrand, Witwatersrand, South Africa
• ⁶Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry, Gulf Medical University, UAE Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
• ⁷Professor and Chair, Department of Orthodontics, Pediatric and Community Dentistry, College of Dental Medicine, University of Sharjah,, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
• ⁸Program Director, Restorative Dentist & Implantologist, Marigold Dental and Orthodontic Clinic, Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates
• ⁹Biomaterials Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University, Cairo 11553, Egypt
• ¹⁰Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
• ¹¹President, Kenya Dental Association, Nairobi, Kenya
• ¹²Department of Child Dental Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Bayero University, Kano/Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Tarauni, Kano, Nigeria
• ¹³Haleon, St George’s Avenue, Weybridge KT13 0DE, United Kingdom
• ¹⁴Medical Affairs Director, Haleon, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• ¹⁵Medical Affairs Scientist, Haleon, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dentine hypersensitivity (DH) is a common yet often overlooked oral condition that causes pain and discomfort, negatively impacting quality of life. The prevalence of DH in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region is relatively higher than in European countries, highlighting the need for interventions to reduce the disease burden associated with DH. A systematic approach and a thorough understanding of the condition are required for proper diagnosis and management. However, the lack of specific treatment guidelines in the MEA region poses a challenge for clinicians in identifying and managing DH. To address this, an advisory board panel of 12 dental experts from 8 MEA countries developed these consensus recommendations for DH diagnosis and management. This paper presents an overview of the clinical presentation, diagnostic challenges, and management strategies specific to the MEA region. It provides evidence-based recommendations and a simplified algorithm to guide clinicians in diagnosing and managing DH effectively. The panel underscored the importance of early diagnosis, preventive education, behavioral modification, and personalized treatment interventions, including self-care home-based therapies, for optimal DH management. Additionally, the panel emphasized the need for heightened public awareness and the integration of DH education into dental professional curricula.