Initial color change and color retention with a hydrogen peroxide bleaching strip.
OBJECTIVE
A randomized, double blind clinical trial was conducted to evaluate initial color improvement and post-treatment color retention following vital bleaching with a strip-based tooth whitening system.


METHODS
After balancing for baseline color, 57 healthy adults were randomized to either whitening strips with a 5.3% hydrogen peroxide bleaching gel (Crest Whitestrips) or placebo strips without hydrogen peroxide. Maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth were treated twice daily for 30 minutes each over a 2-week period, and efficacy was measured objectively by comparing digital images of teeth collected at baseline, end-of-treatment (Week 2) and 6 months after treatment (Month 6).


RESULTS
The whitening strip group experienced a highly significant (P< 0.0001) reduction in yellow of -2.0 deltab* units versus baseline and -1.95 deltab* units versus placebo, with similar results noted for the other color parameters in the study. Most of the initial color change remained at 6 months post-treatment, with the whitening strip group continuing to demonstrate highly significant (P< 0.0001) improvements in tooth color relative to baseline and placebo. Age was found to significantly contribute to initial color improvement, with younger subjects experiencing a greater initial reduction in yellowness compared to older participants, but not to post-treatment color retention. The whitening strips were well tolerated, with minor tooth sensitivity and oral irritation representing the most common findings during treatment. There were no persistent or new treatment-related adverse events during the 6-month monitoring period.
Gerlach
Robert W
RW
Health Care Research Center, The Procter & Gamble Company, Mason, OH 45040-8006, USA. gerlach.rw@pg.com
Gibb
Roger D
RD
Sagel
Paul A
PA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003069:Coffee; D003116:Color; D003481:Cuspid / Q000473:pathology; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000139:chemically induced; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005881:Gingiva / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007180:Incisor / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016877:Oxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012907:Smoking; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013662:Tea; D014070:Tooth / Q000473:pathology*; D014073:Tooth Bleaching / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014075:Tooth Discoloration / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy
D003069:Coffee; D016877:Oxidants; D010919:Placebos; D013662:Tea; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide