Comparison of treatment time versus patient satisfaction in at-home and in-office tooth bleaching therapy.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

There are different approaches and treatment times to achieve tooth whitening.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of different agents and the treatment time required to achieve participant satisfaction with at-home and in-office tooth whitening.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Thirty participants were selected based on the shade of the anterior teeth (between A2 and A3.5; Vita Classic Shade Guide). Each participant received both in-office and at-home bleaching agents in a split-mouth design at both arches. In-office bleaching was performed in the maxillary quadrants, applying 35% hydrogen peroxide (HP35%) (right) and 35% HP with calcium (HP35%Ca) (left) for 40 minutes/week. Home bleaching was performed in mandibular quadrants using carbamide peroxide 10% (CP10%) (right) and CP22% (left) for 2 hours/day. Bleaching treatments were performed until participant satisfaction was achieved (maximum 6 sessions [S] in the dental office or 6 weeks [W] in the home). The shade was measured with a spectrophotometer before treatment, then at 2 and 4 weeks, and at the last week for at-home bleaching; and 1 week after the second, fourth, and last sessions for in-office bleaching. Student t and Tukey-Kramer tests were used (α=.05).

RESULTS

All bleaching agents were effective for vital tooth whitening. No significant differences were observed for color changes between CP10% and CP22% or between HP35% and HP35%Ca for all periods. Treatment times required to achieve patient satisfaction for the in-office bleaching technique were 4S (12 participants), 5S (10 participants), and 6S (8 participants); and 4W (6 participants), 5W (8 participants), and 6W (16 participants) for the at-home bleaching technique.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment time to participant satisfaction ranged from 4 to 6 weeks regardless of the bleaching agent used in at-home and in-office therapy.