Evaluation of the efficacy of potassium nitrate and sodium fluoride as desensitizing agents during tooth bleaching treatment—A systematic review and meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the efficacy of potassium nitrate and sodium fluoride as desensitizing agents during tooth bleaching treatment.


METHODS
An electronic systematic literature search was conducted in Cochrane Center Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE (PubMed) and EmBase in April, 2014 in English and without time restrictions. Study information extraction and methodological quality assessments were accomplished by two reviewers independently. Methodological quality was assessed by using the "Criteria for judging risk of bias in the 'Risk of bias' assessment tool". Dichotomous data was summarized by odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) and continuous data was summarized by mean difference (MD) or standardised mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Statistical analyses were carried out by using Review Manager 5.2. For evaluation of percent of patients experiencing tooth sensitivity (POTS), the pooled OR of desensitizers vs. placebo was 0.45 (95% CI: 0.28-0.73, P=0.29). The pooled SMD of desensitizers vs. placebo was -0.47 (95% CI: -0.77 to -0.18, P=0.13) in evaluation of level of tooth sensitivity (LOTS). The results of shade evaluation remained inconsistent by evaluating subjective shade guide unit difference (ΔSGU or SGU) and objective colour difference (ΔE).


CONCLUSIONS
This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the efficacy of desensitizing agents, potassium nitrate and sodium fluoride, for tooth bleaching treatments. Potassium nitrate and sodium fluoride reduce tooth sensitivity while no consistent conclusion of tooth colour change was found.


CONCLUSIONS
Tooth sensitivity is a typical side effect associated with tooth bleaching procedures. Potassium nitrate and sodium fluoride are used widely to treat tooth sensitivity. This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the efficacy of potassium nitrate and sodium fluoride as desensitizing agents during tooth bleaching treatment.
The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Prosthodontics, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, 237# Luo Yu Road, Wuhan 430079, China.
Yining
Y
Wang
The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Prosthodontics, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, 237# Luo Yu Road, Wuhan 430079, China.
Jinxia
J
Gao
The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Prosthodontics, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, 237# Luo Yu Road, Wuhan 430079, China.
Tao
T
Jiang
The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Prosthodontics, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, 237# Luo Yu Road, Wuhan 430079, China.
Shanshan
S
Liang
The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Prosthodontics, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, 237# Luo Yu Road, Wuhan 430079, China. Electronic address: dryizhou@whu.edu.cn.
Yi
Y
Zhou
Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Bruce A
BA
Matis
D057133:Dentin Desensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D009566:Nitrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010919:Placebos / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017680:Potassium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014073:Tooth Bleaching / Q000379:methods*; D058205:Tooth Bleaching Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D057133:Dentin Desensitizing Agents; D009566:Nitrates; D010919:Placebos; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D058205:Tooth Bleaching Agents; D012969:Sodium Fluoride; C023844:potassium nitrate
At-home bleaching; Carbamide peroxide; Desensitizing; Hydrogen peroxide; In-office bleaching; Potassium nitrate; Tooth bleaching; Tooth sensitivity