Effects of a bioactive desensitizing material on in-office bleaching-induced tooth sensitivity: A randomized...

This randomized clinical trial evaluated the effect of a bioactive glass desensitizer on the risk and intensity of tooth sensitivity and the color change resulting from in-office tooth bleaching with 40% hydrogen peroxide.

Fifty-one participants with upper central incisors shades A2 -A3.5 were randomly assigned to three groups: Predicta® Bioactive Desensitizer; fluoride gel; and a placebo gel. The assigned material was applied on teeth before bleaching with 40% hydrogen peroxide (2 × 20 min applications, two sessions, one week apart). Tooth sensitivity was recorded during and after the bleaching using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). Color changes were evaluated using the Vita Classical (ΔSGU) and VITA EasyShade spectrophotometer (ΔE) before, immediately after bleaching, and one-month after bleaching. Data were analyzed using the Fisher's Exact and Wilcoxon, Kruskal-Wallis for sensitivity and ΔSGU, while ∆E was analyzed with two-way repeated-measures (ANOVA). Significance was set at p < 0.05.

There was no significant difference in the absolute risk of tooth sensitivity between the three groups (p =1.000). A lower intensity of tooth sensitivity was observed between 1 and 48 h post bleaching for the Predicta® bioactive desensitizer in both scales (p < 0.05). The two-color evaluation tools showed effective and similar bleaching over time in all three groups (p > 0.05).

The application of Predicta® immediately before in-office bleaching with 40% hydrogen peroxide did not lower the risk of tooth sensitivity or the intensity of sensitivity immediately after bleaching or within the first hour. However, a significant decrease in sensitivity intensity was observed from 1 to 48 h post-bleaching, without compromising bleaching efficacy.

Predicta® does not provide immediate protection against bleaching-induced tooth sensitivity. Its clinical benefit is characterized by a delayed reduction in sensitivity occurring after the first post-operative hour, which should be considered when counseling patients and managing post-bleaching discomfort. This clinical trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov; the registration number is NCT06532526.