FDI has expanded its Educational Module for Other Health Professionals with the addition of a new Dentine Hypersensitivity (DH) Fact Sheet and an accompanying infographic, providing practical, evidence-based resources to support oral health promotion across the wider healthcare workforce.

Dentine hypersensitivity is a common oral health condition characterized by a short, sharp pain arising from exposed dentine in response to stimuli such as cold, heat, touch, or certain foods and drinks. Although frequently encountered in clinical practice, it remains under-recognized and can significantly affect a person's quality of life and daily activities. FDI notes that dentine hypersensitivity is often associated with factors such as gingival recession, enamel loss, acidic diets, traumatic brushing habits, and other oral conditions.

The new resources have been developed as part of FDI's Educational Module for Other Health Professionals, an initiative designed to strengthen interprofessional collaboration and equip non-dental healthcare professionals with essential oral health knowledge. The programme recognizes that many oral diseases are preventable through simple, evidence-based interventions and that engaging a broader range of healthcare providers can help expand access to oral health care, particularly for underserved populations.

Why these resources matter

Health professionals such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, and other allied health providers are often among the first to encounter patients experiencing oral health problems. By increasing awareness of dentine hypersensitivity, these professionals can play an important role in:

• Recognizing common signs and symptoms of dentine hypersensitivity
• Understanding potential risk factors and contributing behaviours
• Providing basic preventive advice and oral health education
• Supporting timely referral to dental professionals when appropriate
• Encouraging a collaborative approach to patient care

The new fact sheet offers concise guidance on dentine hypersensitivity, while the infographic presents key information in a visually engaging format that can be easily shared, displayed, or incorporated into educational activities.

Supporting a collaborative approach to oral health

FDI's Educational Module for Other Health Professionals was created to help integrate oral health into broader healthcare delivery. The initiative provides a growing collection of fact sheets and infographics covering a range of oral health topics, enabling health professionals outside dentistry to incorporate essential oral health considerations into their routine practice.

By improving awareness and understanding of conditions such as dentine hypersensitivity, health professionals can contribute to earlier identification of oral health issues, improved patient outcomes, and stronger links between oral and general health.

Access the resources

The Dentine Hypersensitivity Fact Sheet and Infographic are available here: FDI Educational Module for Other Health Professionals

Together, we can strengthen interprofessional collaboration and help ensure that oral health becomes an integral part of overall health and well-being.

The Educational Module for Other Healthcare Professionals project is supported by HALEON.