Bleaching and temporomandibular disorder using a half tray design: a clinical report

A maxillary soft, custom-fitted tray was fabricated for a patient to perform nightguard vital bleaching. Treatment was interrupted after the patient experienced pain in the temporomandibular joint area shortly after wearing the bleaching prosthesis. The tray was trimmed so the labial, incisal and buccal cusps were covered and Sc) the patient had complete tooth-to-tooth contact in the maximum intercuspal position. The prosthesis proved to be retentive even without the presence of the bleaching material. The thick, sticky bleaching material was contained in the half tray design and the tray was held in place. The patient was able to continue the bleaching process for the 2-week duration necessary to achieve successful lightening of the teeth without further TMD symptoms.