Evaluation of a Desensitizing Agent for at-Home Bleaching

Objectives: One of the main disadvantages of bleaching therapies is the tooth sensitivity. Therefore the aim of this study was to evaluate whether the use of a desensitizing agent (5% potassium nitrate and 2% sodium fluoride [Desensibilize KF 2%, FGM]) before at-home bleaching would prevente/decrease tooth sensitivity [TS] when compared to a placebo. Methods: Sixty caries-free patients, over 18 years, were divided into desensitizer and placebo groups. A placebo or desensitizer agent was applied in the custom-fitted tray for 10 min before overnight (8h) use of 16% carbamide peroxide gel (Whiteness Standard, FGM) during 4 weeks. The patients recorded their perception of TS daily on a 0-4 scale. Color changes (in shade guide units [SGU] were evaluated weekly by a calibrated operator using a value-oriented Vita shade guide. Variation in color between groups was evaluated by a repeated measures ANOVA (alfa=0.05). The percentage of patients with TS and its intensity were analyzed using the Fisher's exact test and Student's t-test (á=0.05), respectively. Results: The use of desensitizing gel did not affect the bleaching efficacy of 16% carbamide peroxide (p>0.05). The TS frequency was similar for both groups (67.8% for placebo and 70% for desensitizer group; p=0.93). The intensity of TS was higher for the placebo (1.27 ± 0.51) compared to the desensitizer group (1.15 ± 0.52) (p=0.009). Conclusions: The use of the desensitizing gel based on 5% nitrate potassium and 2% sodium fluoride before at-home bleaching regimen with 16% carbamide peroxide does not affect the bleaching efficacy and reduce the tooth sensitivity intensity.