Methods: Thirty voluntary patients in good oral and general health, with a desire to lighten their teeth in shade A3 or darker (VITAPAN Classical) participated to this study. Subjects were randomly assigned to three groups. Group1 was treated with a home bleaching system (Opalescence PF/ 35% Carbamide Peroxide), Group2 was treated with a chemically activated office bleaching system (Opalescence Xtra Boost/ 38% Hydrogen Peroxide) and Group3 was treated with a light activated office bleaching system (Opalescence Xtra/ 35% Hydrogen Peroxide) according to manufacturer's instructions (Ultradent). The color was measured at baseline, 1 week, 3 and 6 months after bleaching treatments using a spectrophotometer (Vita Easy Shade). Any side effect on tooth and gingiva during and 1-7 days following the bleaching treatments was recorded by Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Results were analyzed using One-way ANOVA, Friedman test followed by Multiple Comparisons and Kruskal-Wallis test.
Results: Spectrophotometer readings exhibited differences between baseline and after bleachings(p<0.05). The overall color change (ΔE) of Group3 was higher than the other groups(p<0,05). The ΔE decreased after 3 and 6 months for all groups(p<0.05). Tooth sensitivity was observed by all systems during and 1 day following bleaching in comparison with 2,3,4,5,6,7 days(p<0.05) but the differences among the groups were not significant (p>0.05). Although a slight gingival sensitivity was reported in Group1 during the treatment and after 1 and 2 days, there were no differences at any time point for any group in terms of gingival sensitivity (p>0.05).
Conclusions: All the tested bleaching systems were effective in whitening. They resulted in slight tooth sensitivity during the treatment and 1 day later. No significant gingival sensitivity was reported within the evaluation periods at any groups.