Evaluation of the Efficacy of Desensitizers During Tooth Bleaching Treatment

Objectives: This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the efficacy of potassium nitrate and sodium fluoride as desensitizing agents during tooth bleaching treatment.
Methods: In this review, an electronic systematic literature search was conducted in Cochrane Center Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE (PubMed) and EmBase in April, 2014 in English and without time restrictions. Study information extraction and methodological quality assessments were accomplished by two reviewers independently. Methodological quality was assessed by using the “Criteria for judging risk of bias in the ‘Risk of bias’ assessment tool”. Dichotomous data was summarized by OR with 95% CI and continuous data was summarized by MD or SMD with 95% CI. Statistical analyses were carried out by using Review Manager 5.2.
Results: For evaluation of POTS, the pooled OR of desensitizer vs. placebo was 0.45 (95% CI: 0.28-0.73, p=0.29). The pooled SMD of desensitizer vs. placebo was -0.47 (95% CI: -0.77 to -0.18, P=0.13) in evaluation of LOTS. Statistical analysis has shown that desensitizer had statistical significance in reducing the tooth sensitivity. The results of shade evaluation remained inconsistent by evaluating △SGU (or SGU) and △E.
Conclusions: This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the efficacy of desensitizing agents, potassium nitrate and sodium fluoride, for tooth bleaching treatments. Potassium nitrate and sodium fluoride reduce tooth sensitivity while no consistent conclusion in changing tooth color was found.