Randomized Vital Teeth Bleaching With Light Source: 6 Month Follow-up

Objectives: To compare in vivo different protocols for whitening vital teeth in function of the degree of sensitivity, color change and stability over a period of 6 months.
Methods: Forty eight patients were selected and randomized for in office bleaching in which 12 patients received the following whitening protocols; G1: 5x7’30’’ applications of 10% hydrogen peroxide gel (HP) (experimental) with 3x2’ hybrid light (HL) activation (LED violet/Laser Diode, experimental) with 30” interval, totaling 37’30”; G2: 5x7’30’’ applications of 15% HP (Lase Peroxide Lite, DMC) with 3x2’ HL activation (LED blue/Laser Diode, Whitening Lase II, DMC) with 30” interval (37’30”); G3: 3x7’30’’ applications of 35% HP (Total Blanc Office, DFL) with 3x2” HL activation with 30” interval (22’30”); G4: 3x15’ applications, totaling 45’ of 35% HP (Total Blanc Office, DFL), without HL. The VAS questionnaire was used to evaluate tooth sensitivity before, immediately, 24h and 1 week after treatment. The color evaluation was performed with the Vita Easyshade (VITA) spectrophotometer before bleaching, 24 hours, 1 and 6 months after.
Results: Kruskal-Wallis and the Mann Whitney tests (p<0.05) revealed differences between G1 and the other groups for sensitivity. After one week, the levels of sensitivity returned to normal for all groups. Two way ANOVA and Tukey’s tests (p<0.05) revealed statistically significant intragroup color differences (∆E) for G1 and G2 for all periods evaluated. G1 (10% HP) showed a less degree of bleaching, but without differences after 6 months compared to the other groups. G2, G3 and G4 presented similar results (∆E) in all periods evaluated.
Conclusions: G1 presented less sensitivity and less degree of bleaching compared to the other groups. G2, G3 and G4 presented similar degrees of bleaching after 6 months.