Sensitivity and tooth whitening agents.
OBJECTIVE
Three commercially available dentist-prescribed home-applied bleaching systems were evaluated to identify the incidence of sensitivity and to compare the efficacy of whitening the maxillary anterior teeth of 18 patients.


METHODS
NiteWhite Excel 2Z (Discus Dental), fx (Challenge Products), and Rembrandt Xtra-Comfort (DenMat Corp.) were randomly assigned to six patients each. The fx product was used as a control since it was not advertised as a zero sensitivity product. The manufacturers' instructions for tray fabrication and use were followed while the patients bleached for 2 weeks. The patients kept a diary and were recalled at 1 week, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks. The shade change and the presence or absence of any sensitivity were evaluated at each recall.


RESULTS
NiteWhite Excel 2Z was used for 83 days of treatment with the following percentage of positive sensitivity reported: 0% hot and cold, 2.4% throat sensitivity, 2.4% tongue sensitivity, and 25.3% gingival sensitivity. Rembrandt Xtra-Comfort was used for 84 days with 0% hot and cold, 0% throat, 11.9% tongue, and 27.4% gingival sensitivity reported. The fx product was used for 83 days and resulted in 14.5% hot and cold, 3.6% throat, 1.2% tongue, and 16.9% gingival sensitivity. All products lightened the teeth an average of eight shade tabs on the Vita guide. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups when comparing the presence of sensitivity (chi-squared test, p < .001) but not when comparing the shade tab change.


CONCLUSIONS
Of the products tested, all produced similar change in shade tab value, none were sensitivity free, but NiteWhite Excel 2Z and Rembrandt Xtra-Comfort did not produce thermal sensitivity.
Pohjola
Randall M
RM
Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912-1260, USA. rpohjola@mail.mcg.edu
Browning
William D
WD
Hackman
Steven T
ST
Myers
Michael L
ML
Downey
Mary C
MC
D000077463:Carbamide Peroxide; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000139:chemically induced; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005881:Gingiva / Q000187:drug effects; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016877:Oxidants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010545:Peroxides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000187:drug effects; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000009:adverse effects; D014059:Tongue / Q000187:drug effects; D014073:Tooth Bleaching / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D014508:Urea / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
D004338:Drug Combinations; D016877:Oxidants; D010545:Peroxides; D011145:Polyvinyls; C112939:Rembrandt Lighten; D000077463:Carbamide Peroxide; D014508:Urea