Effectiveness and safety of tooth bleaching in teenagers.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety outcomes of a currently marketed, peroxide-containing, tray-based, tooth-whitening system to a peroxide-containing, "trayless" tooth-whitening system.


METHODS
Fifty-seven subjects, 12 to 17 years of age, participated in this study and were divided into 2 balanced groups. Twelve subjects received custom trays with 10% carbamide peroxide gel that they were instructed to wear overnight. Forty-five subjects received 10% hydrogen peroxide polyethylene strips to wear for 30 minutes twice a day. Teeth were bleached for 2 weeks. Digital image analysis measured color in B, L, and A color spaces, where B indicated yellowness, L indicated lightness, and A indicated redness. Oral examinations and interviews were used to ascertain any adverse events that may have occurred during treatment.


RESULTS
Fifty-one patients completed this study. Both whitening systems yielded significant (P<.001) color improvement, as evidenced by decreased yellowness, increased lightness, and decreased redness. Groups did not differ significantly (P>.39) regarding color improvement for B, L, or A on either the maxillary or mandibular teeth. Twelve subjects (27%) in the polyethylene strip group reported adverse events compared to 5 subjects (42%) in the tray-delivered group. Minor and transient tooth sensitivity and oral irritation were the most common adverse events.


CONCLUSIONS
Both the daytime strip and overnight tray groups significantly (P<.0001) whitened teeth; there were no significant differences between the 2 groups in any of the color parameters; both whitening systems were well tolerated, and most adverse events were mild in severity.
Donly
Kevin J
KJ
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Dental School, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA. donly@uthscsa.edu
Kennedy
Paul
P
Segura
Adriana
A
Gerlach
Robert W
RW
D000293:Adolescent; D000077463:Carbamide Peroxide; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016877:Oxidants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010545:Peroxides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014073:Tooth Bleaching / Q000379:methods*; D014508:Urea / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D004338:Drug Combinations; D005782:Gels; D016877:Oxidants; D010545:Peroxides; D000077463:Carbamide Peroxide; D014508:Urea; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide