title: Assessment of tooth sensitivity using a desensitizer before light-activated bleaching.
abstract: CLINICAL OBJECTIVE: This clinical study evaluated whether the use of a desensitizing agent (5% potassium nitrate/2% sodium fluoride) before in-office light-activated bleaching decreased this sensitivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Before in-office bleaching with 35% hydrogen peroxide gel (three applications, 15 minutes each) associated with an LED/laser unit, clinicians applied a placebo gel or the desensitizing agent on the buccal surfaces of all participants. They repeated this protocol one week later. Patients recorded their tooth sensitivity on a 0-to-4 scale. The authors used one-way repeated measures ANOVA to compare the tooth color changes and non-parametric statistics to compare the different percentages of patients with tooth sensitivity and the levels of tooth sensitivity in the different periods of time between groups (α=0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The use of a desensitizing gel did not affect the bleaching efficacy. Eighty percent and 100% of the participants from the experimental and placebo groups, respectively, experienced tooth sensitivity (p>0.05). The intensity of sensitivity was similar immediately after bleaching for both groups (p>0.05). After 24 hours, lower sensitivity was reported in the experimental group, while most of the participants from the placebo group experienced tooth sensitivity (p<0.05).
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, University Estadual de Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa, Parana, Brazil. reis_ale@hotmail.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Dalanhol
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kossatz
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Loguercio
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D057133:Dentin Desensitizing Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D007834:Lasers; D009566:Nitrates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017680:Potassium Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014073:Tooth Bleaching / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D058205:Tooth Bleaching Agents
chemical_list: D057133:Dentin Desensitizing Agents; D009566:Nitrates; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D058205:Tooth Bleaching Agents; D012969:Sodium Fluoride; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; C023844:potassium nitrate