Placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating a 10% hydrogen peroxide whitening strip.
OBJECTIVE
A placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a 10% hydrogen peroxide strip-based whitening system in subjects with tooth discoloration and no previous history of tooth whitening.


METHODS
Informed consent was obtained, and 39 healthy adults were randomly assigned to either 10% hydrogen peroxide whitening strips (Crest Whitestrips Premium) or placebo strips with no peroxide. Strips were used unsupervised twice daily for 30 minutes over a seven-day period. At day four and day eight, tooth color (L*a*b*) was measured on the maxillary anterior teeth from standard digital images, and safety was assessed from examinations and subject reports.


RESULTS
After three treatment days, the 10% hydrogen peroxide strip group had significant (p < 0.0001) color improvement from baseline, with means (SD) for deltab* and deltaL* of -1.57 (0.472) and 1.72 (0.619), respectively. Continued strip use from day four to day eight resulted in significant (p < 0.002) incremental improvement in both yellowness and lightness. By the end of treatment (day eight), the adjusted mean (SE) color change between groups was -2.20 (0.275) for deltab* and 2.24 (0.254) for deltaL*, a highly significant (p < 0.0001) color improvement for the 10% hydrogen peroxide group relative to placebo, of similar absolute magnitude for deltab* and deltaL*. Treatment with the 10% hydrogen peroxide strips was well-tolerated, with tooth sensitivity and oral irritation representing the most common findings.


CONCLUSIONS
In this double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, statistically significant tooth whitening was evident after three days' treatment with 10% hydrogen peroxide whitening strips, and color improved with continued usage over seven days.
Gerlach
Robert W
RW
The Procter & Gamble Company, Health Care Research Center, Mason, OH, USA. gerlach.rw@pg.com
Sagel
Paul A
PA
Barker
Matthew L
ML
Karpinia
Katherine A
KA
Magnusson
Ingvar
I
D000328:Adult; D003116:Color; D003481:Cuspid / Q000473:pathology; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000139:chemically induced; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007180:Incisor / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D016877:Oxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos; D012449:Safety; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000139:chemically induced; D014073:Tooth Bleaching / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D014075:Tooth Discoloration / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016877:Oxidants; D010919:Placebos; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide