Six-months Follow-up of Bleaching Efficacy of 16% Carbamide Peroxide

To evaluate the bleaching efficacy of a trade presentation of 16% carbamide peroxide (highest concentration allowed by the new european regulations) through an objective color measurement.  

Method:

A sample of 25 patients from the Dental Bleaching Unit at the Odontological Clinic (University of Valencia-Spain-) was included in the study. All of them showed mild or medium dental discolorations. An at-home professional-controlled bleaching was performed. 16% carbamide peroxide (Pola Night -SDI-) was applied during 60 minutes, daily, during 4 weeks.  A clinical spectrophotometer was used twice (baseline and 6-month after the bleaching period) in order to obtain data according to the CIELab space (L*, a* and b*). DE for each tooth and dental group were assessed. A paired T-test was used to compare the initial and final data. Comparisons among dental groups were performed with the ANOVA test.

Result:

All teeth were bleached. Average DE was 7.89. There was a significant higher color change in canines and premolars when compared to incisors (p<0.05), related to the value component of color (L*) and the proximity to blue (a*).

Conclusion:

Carbamide peroxide at safe concentrations (according to the new european specifications) is useful in the treatment of dental mild and medium discolorations following an at-home procedure.