Sonic Activation of a Desensitizing Gel Prior to In-Office Bleaching

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Dental Materials Science

Background:

• Tooth sensitivity (TS) is a common side effect of in-office dental bleaching.
• Desensitizing agents (DA) containing potassium nitrate and sodium fluoride are often used to mitigate TS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate if sonic activation of a DA enhances its efficacy in reducing tooth sensitivity during dental bleaching.
• To compare the impact of sonic activation versus standard application of a DA on TS and bleaching outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial with a split-mouth design was conducted on 34 patients.
• One-half of maxillary teeth received DA with sonic activation (SA), while the other half received DA without sonic activation (noSA).
• DA was applied, followed by 35% hydrogen peroxide bleaching sessions. TS was assessed using numeric rating and visual analog scales; color change was measured with a spectrophotometer.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in the absolute risk of TS was observed between the SA and noSA groups (93% in both).
• TS intensity was higher in the 24-hour interval post-bleaching for both groups, with no significant difference between treatments.
• Color change was comparable between the SA and noSA groups, averaging 6.35 Vita Classical shade guide units.

Conclusions:

• Sonic activation of a desensitizing agent containing 5% potassium nitrate and 2% sodium fluoride does not reduce the absolute risk or intensity of tooth sensitivity associated with in-office dental bleaching.
• Sonic activation did not influence the color change achieved by the bleaching procedure.