Efficacy and oral side effects of two highly concentrated tray-based bleaching systems

The aim of this study was to investigate the tooth-whitening efficacy and oral side effects of the two tray-based bleaching systems Visalys whitening (VW) and Opalescence PF (OP). A stratified, randomised distribution of the subjects (n = 60) to two treatment groups was performed according to baseline tooth brightness (L* values) as determined by colourimeter and to the criteria smoker/non-smoker. Tooth colour was evaluated by measuring L*a*b* values generated from standardised digital image analysis with Adobe Photoshop of the facial surfaces of the right central maxillary incisor. Tooth hypersensitivity, with intensity graded from 0 (no hypersensitivity) to 10 (high hypersensitivity), was assessed chair-side using an air syringe. After bleaching therapy, both treatment groups demonstrated significant improvements in tooth colour (p < or = 0.05). A shift towards less yellow (-Deltab*) and brighter (+DeltaL*) tooth colour was observed. Deltab* was significantly higher in the OP group in comparison to the VW group, DeltaL* showed no significant difference between the both treatment groups (p < or = 0.05). After bleaching, the intensity of tooth hypersensitivity was increased significantly compared to baseline in both groups (p < or = 0.05), with no significant difference between the both groups. Both highly concentrated bleaching systems are effective as tooth-whitening systems, with few reported side effects such as transient tooth hypersensitivity.