Spectrophotometric and visual evaluation of vital tooth bleaching employing different carbamide peroxide concentrations

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the hypothesis that the efficiency of vital tooth bleaching depends on the concentration of carbamide peroxide agents.

Methods: The front teeth of 30 subjects were bleached at home with 10%, 17% or 0% (control) carbamide peroxide for 1 week in a double-blind study design. Tooth shades were determined in the LCH color space employing a visual shade matching system and a spectrophotometer. Differences in lightness (Deltal), chroma (Deltac) and hue (Deltah) were measured to assess the treatment process. After 2 weeks of no treatment, tooth shades were evaluated again to assess stability of the resultant shade.

Results: First-time changes of shade values could be observed after 3 days in the 17% group and after 7 days in the 10% group. After 1 week, in both the 17% group (Deltal: 2.80, Deltac: -3.33, Deltah: 0.60) and the 10% group (Deltal: 2.61, Deltac: -2.54, Deltah: 0.09), values for lightness and chroma were significantly different from the control (Deltal: 0.13, Deltac: 0.14, Deltah: 0.21, p<0.05) with no difference between the test groups (p>0.05). Two weeks after treatment, a rebound of shade values could be observed in the test groups (p<0.05).

Significance: The study indicates that higher concentration bleaching agents might whiten teeth faster with major changes in lightness and chroma. However, by bleaching daily for 1 week, similar effects can be achieved with both a high and a low concentration agent. After treatment, a regression of the resultant shade has to be expected.