Advances in the Management of the Patient with Dentine Hypersensitivity: Motivation and Prevention

The aim of the first part of this chapter is to reflect on how the management of dentine hypersensitivity (DH) has been traditionally recommended in clinical practice and the steps taken to provide simple and practical guidelines for the busy clinician. The second part of this chapter will develop the recommendations on how to manage DH by concentrating on techniques (for example, motivational interviewing) used in both medicine and dentistry to effect behavioural changes when providing instructions to patients, enabling them to not only recognize the need for change but also to take ownership of their problem whether it is through an improvement in oral hygiene practice or taking steps to limit the effects of acidic food or drink on initiating DH.