In vitro evaluation of two whitening regimens using color-analyzing methods

Area of Science:

• Dental Aesthetics
• Preventive Dentistry

Background:

• Tooth whitening is a popular cosmetic dental procedure.
• At-home whitening products offer convenient options for consumers.
• The efficacy of whitening treatments can be influenced by pre-existing tooth conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the in vitro effect of dental prophylaxis prior to tooth whitening.
• To assess the efficacy of a paint-on home whitening product.
• To compare two methods of tooth color analysis for whitening assessment.

Main Methods:

• Ninety extracted human teeth were divided into prophylaxis and non-prophylaxis groups.
• Teeth were treated with placebo, test (Easy White), or positive control (Colgate Simply White) whitening gels for two weeks.
• Tooth color was measured using digital imaging analysis and a colorimeter at baseline, post-prophylaxis, and post-whitening.

Main Results:

• Tooth whitening was effective regardless of prophylaxis, but prophylaxis improved outcomes.
• Both the test and positive control whitening gels significantly improved tooth shade and color compared to placebo.
• No significant difference in efficacy was found between the test and positive control whitening gels.

Conclusions:

• Prophylaxis is recommended before using paint-on home whitening gels for optimal results.
• Colorimetry and digital imaging analysis are viable methods for evaluating whitening efficacy.
• Digital imaging analysis offers advantages in data evaluation and outcome visualization.