Zero Sensitivity Tooth Whitening

Many bleaching products have claimed to produce whitening of the teeth with reports of little or no sensitivity. Objective: Three commercially available dentist-prescribed home-applied bleaching systems were evaluated to identify the incidence of sensitivity and to compare the efficacy of whitening the maxillary anterior teeth of 18 patients. Methods: NiteWhite Excel 2Z (Discus Dental), fx (Challenge Products) and Rembrandt Xtra-Comfort (DenMat Corp) were randomly assigned to six patients each. The fx product was used as a control since it was not advertised as a zero sensitivity product. The manufacturer’s instructions for tray fabrication and use were followed while the patients bleached for two weeks. The patients kept a diary and were recalled at 1 week, 2 weeks and 4 weeks. The shade change and the presence or absence of any sensitivity were evaluated at each recall. Results: NiteWhite Excel 2Z was used for 83 total days of treatment with the following percentage of positive sensitivity reported: 0% hot and cold, 2.4% throat sensitivity, 2.4% tongue sensitivity and 25.3% gingival sensitivity. Rembrandt Xtra-Comfort was used for 84 total days and reported 0% hot and cold, 0% throat, 11.9% tongue and 27.4% gingival sensitivity. The fx product was used for 83 total days and resulted in 14.5% hot and cold, 7.14% throat, 1.2% tongue and 16.9% gingival sensitivity. All products lightened the teeth an average of 8 shade tabs on the Vita guide. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups when comparing the presence of sensitivity (Chi square: p<0.001), but not when comparing the shade tab change. Conclusion: Of the products tested, all produced similar change in shade tab value, none were sensitivity free, but NiteWhite Excel 2Z and Rembrandt Xtra-Comfort did not produce thermal sensitivity.