Efficacy of In-office Bleaching Gel One Week After Mixing: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Area of Science:

• Dental Aesthetics
• Clinical Dentistry
• Materials Science in Dentistry

Background:

• In-office dental bleaching is a popular cosmetic procedure.
• The stability and efficacy of bleaching agents after mixing are crucial for predictable clinical outcomes.
• Understanding potential side effects like tooth sensitivity and gingival irritation is important for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of in-office dental bleaching using 40% hydrogen peroxide.
• To compare the risk and intensity of tooth sensitivity (TS) and gingival irritation (GI) between freshly mixed and 1-week-old bleaching gel.
• To assess changes in patients' esthetic self-perception following the bleaching procedure.

Main Methods:

• A randomized clinical trial with a split-mouth design involving 40 subjects.
• In-office bleaching performed with 40% hydrogen peroxide (Opalescence Boost PF).
• Objective and subjective color assessments, alongside patient-reported outcomes for TS, GI, and esthetic self-perception.

Main Results:

• Both freshly mixed and 1-week-old bleaching gel yielded satisfactory and comparable bleaching results (objective and subjective color change).
• No statistically significant differences were observed in the risk or intensity of tooth sensitivity or gingival irritation between the two gel conditions.
• Patients reported significant improvements in esthetic self-perception post-bleaching, particularly regarding tooth color.

Conclusions:

• In-office dental bleaching with Opalescence Boost PF 40% is effective, maintaining its efficacy even when the gel is mixed one week prior to application.
• The timing of gel mixing (immediately vs. 1 week prior) does not impact the risk or intensity of tooth sensitivity or gingival irritation.
• The procedure significantly enhances patients' self-perception of their smile aesthetics.