Patients' Assessments of Tooth Sensitivity Increase One Day Following Different Whitening Treatments.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this clinical study was to compare tooth sensitivity scores and color change values before and 1 day following whitening treatments using different concentrations of whitening agents for in-office and at-home procedures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 60 participants divided into 3 groups were included in this study. A whitening procedure was carried out in groups using 40% hydrogen peroxide (HP) in in-office treatment, 16% and 10% carbamide peroxide (CP), respectively. Participants rated their tooth sensitivity at the baseline and 1 day following the treatment. The CIEl values were recorded and color differences were calculated.

RESULTS

Within each of the whitening treatments, the tooth sensitivity scores significantly increased following the procedure (p<0.05). The largest significant increase in scores was noted in 40% HP in-office whitening treatment, while the lowest increase was noted in 10% CP at-home whitening treatments (p<0.05). The highest color change 1 day following the procedure was found in the 40% HP in-office whitening treatment group (3.3) and it significantly differed from both 16% CP and 10% CP at-home whitening treatments whose color difference was both 2.0, respectively (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

1 day following the procedure, a low concentrate CP agent for at-home whitening causes the least tooth sensitivity compared to higher concentrate CP for at-home and HP for in-office agents, with the same color change efficacy as higher concentrate CP agent. In case with slight tooth sensitivity reported at the baseline, a 10% CP whitening treatment should be recommended.