Effects of At-home Bleaching in Smokers: 30-month Follow-up

This clinical study evaluated the color longevity after 30 months of at-home bleaching with 10% carbamide peroxide (CP) in smokers and nonsmokers.

Sixty patients, 30 smokers and 30 nonsmokers, were subjected to bleaching with 10% CP (Whiteness Perfect-FGM) for three hours daily for three weeks. The color was measured at baseline and at one month and 30 months after the completion of dental bleaching using the shade guide Vita classical organized by value (ΔSGU) and the shade guide Vita Bleachedguide 3D-MASTER. At the 30-month recall, the color was assessed before and after dental prophylaxis. Data from color evaluation were analyzed by two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance and Tukey test for the contrast of means (α=0.05).

Twenty-one smokers and 22 nonsmokers attended the 30 month recall. For both shade guides, only the main factor of assessment time was statistically significant (p<0.001). Effective whitening was observed in both groups at the baseline, which was stable at one month. However, color rebound was observed after 30 months for both groups of participants when color was measured before and after dental prophylaxis.

Thirty months after at-home bleaching with 10% CP gel, dental darkening was detected in both groups, which cannot be solely attributed to stains caused by extrinsic staining from daily food, drinks, and smoke (in smokers).