Effectiveness of Using a Desensitizing Gel before Home Bleaching on Tooth Sensitivity and Color Change: A Clinical Trial

Ramin  Elahifar; Mohammadreza  Madani; Somayeh Hosseini  Tabatabaei; Mohammad Rasoul  Asadi

doi:10.18502/jimc.v9i1.20492

Ramin Elahifar Department of Aesthetic and Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
Mohammadreza Madani Department of Operative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
Somayeh Hosseini Tabatabaei Oral and Dental Diseases Research Center, Department of Operative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
Mohammad Rasoul Asadi Oral and Dental Diseases Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jimc.v9i1.20492

Keywords: sensitivity, Female, Potassium nitrate, Socio-economic factors, Sodium fluoride, Tooth bleaching, Visual analog scale

Abstract

Background: With the rise in living standards, the significance of a captivating smile in one’s appearance has become more apparent. On the other hand, tooth bleaching is very popular as a conservative esthetic treatment. Investigating the effect of desensitizing gel before home bleaching on tooth sensitivity and color change.

Methods: This clinical trial study was conducted on 30 women assigned into two experimental groups: Control (CG) and Desensitizing (DG) Groups, who were treated with placebo gel and 2% KF desensitizing gel (2% sodium fluoride and 5% potassium nitrate), respectively. The primary color of the upper right central tooth was recorded using a ShadeStar digital colorimeter before bleaching. Tooth sensitivity was evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale on 1, 4, 7, 10, and 14 days. The tooth color was also tested on day 14 and at months 1, 3, and 6 intervals of bleaching.

The Friedman, Cochran’s, Chi-Square, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used. A significance level of p < 0.05 was set.

Results: Tooth sensitivity was significantly higher in the CG than in the DG at all time points (p<0.05). There was no significant difference regarding the degree of color change in the DG and CG (p>0.05). Intragroup comparison at different time points showed that the difference in color stability at six months after bleaching was significant in the DG (p=0.005) but not substantial in the CG (p=0.585).

Conclusion: Desensitizing gel before home bleaching has been found to significantly reduce sensitivity. However, it does not affect color stability.