Spectrophotometric assessment of the effectiveness of Opalescence PF 10%: a 14-month clinical study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of Opalescence PF 10% just after treatment, at 6-month follow-up and at a 14-month follow-up period.


METHODS
Opalescence PF 10% was applied nightly for 14 days. The color of teeth 11 and 21 of 17 subjects were measured with a spectrophotometer (L*; a*; b*) before treatment, just after treatment (14 days), after 6 months and after 14 months. Subjects were instructed to take note of any tooth sensitivity.


RESULTS
For all three components (L*, a* and b*) statistical significant differences (p<0.05) in the values between base-line, after treatment (14 days later), after 6 months and after 14 months were found (Wilcoxon Signed Rank Sum Test). The decrease in L* was about 20% after 6 months and about 50% after 14 months. The a* value decreased approximately 14% after 6 months but was worse after 14 months than at the beginning. The b* value decreased the least with about 9% after 6 months and about 8% after 14 months. The decrease in DeltaE(ab)(*) was approximately 20% after 14 months. Less than 20% of the subjects experienced mild tooth sensitivity just after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Significantly whiter teeth were found after treatment as well as after a 6-month follow-up period. The whiteness/brightness (L*) decreased with approximately 50% after 14 months and the a* value with approximately 50% after 7 months, while the yellowness (b* value) remained even after 14 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The product is an effective tooth whitener resulting in only low tooth sensitivity. Re-bleaching could be done at about 14 months.
Oral and Dental Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, University of the Western Cape, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa. srgrobler@uwc.ac.za
S R
SR
Grobler
R
R
Hayward
S
S
Wiese
M H
MH
Moola
T J
TJ
van W Kotze
D003116:Color; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000145:classification; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D016877:Oxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010545:Peroxides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019233:Retreatment; D012648:Self Care; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D014070:Tooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D014073:Tooth Bleaching / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014508:Urea / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
D004338:Drug Combinations; D016877:Oxidants; D010545:Peroxides; D011145:Polyvinyls; C093177:tooth-bleaching agent, Opalescence; D014508:Urea