Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 1, 2026

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Dental Pulp Research with Improved Mouse Models
Published on: October 27, 2023
Inflammatory markers IL-1β and RANK-L assessment after non-vital bleaching: A 3-month follow-up
Cristian Bersezio1, Francisca Sánchez1, Juan Estay1
1Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Objective:
This study assessed IL-1β and RANK-L levels in vivo and color stability of non-vital teeth bleached using hydrogen (35%) and carbamide (37%) peroxides 3 months after treatment.
Materials And Methods:
Fifty teeth were randomly divided into two groups(n = 25):35% hydrogen peroxide (HP) or 37% carbamide peroxide (CP). Four sessions of intracoronal walking-bleach procedure were performed. IL-1β and RANK-L levels were assessed from gingival crevicular fluid samples (from three vestibular and three palatines sites) at eight different time-points: at the beginning of the study (baseline), after four sessions of intracanal bleaching, and at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months posttreatment. The color variations were visually detected using Vita bleach shade guide (ΔSGU).
Results:
Significant increases of IL-1β and RANK-L levels were detected at all time-points (all P < .05) when comparing each time-point to baseline, and a high correlation (>0.8-Spearman) between variables. According the ΔSGU values, a color change of five for HP and four for CP were detected.
Conclusions:
Non-vital walking bleach technique promotes an increase in IL-1β and RANKL levels in periodontal tissues and also, it is maintained until the third-month posttreatment.
Clinical Significance:
The internal whitening of teeth increases the levels of cytokines associated with inflammation and bone resorption 3 months after the whitening procedure is finished; this should warn of possible harmful effects of this whitening technique.

