title: Pre- and postoperative dexamethasone does not reduce bleaching-induced tooth sensitivity: A randomized, triple-masked clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tooth sensitivity (TS) is the most common side effect of dental bleaching therapies. Dexamethasone has been used with tooth bleaching to reduce TS. The efficacy of dexamethasone for this purpose has not been well studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors conducted a triple-masked, randomized, clinical trial with a parallel design involving 63 healthy participants who received either a placebo or dexamethasone. The placebo or dexamethasone (8 milligrams) was administered 1 hour before the in-office bleaching (35% hydrogen peroxide) and extra doses of 4 mg were administered every 6 hours for a total of 48 hours. TS was recorded on 2 scales: visual analog scale (0-10) and numeric rating scale (0-4) in different periods. The color evaluations were performed before and 1 month after dental bleaching with visual shade guides VITA Classical (VITA Zahnfabrik) and VITA Bleachedguide 3D-MASTER (VITA Zahnfabrik), and for a shade guide evaluation, the authors used a digital spectrophotometer, VITA Easyshade (VITA Zahnfabrik). The absolute risk of TS was evaluated by a Fisher exact test. Data of TS intensity using the NRS scale for the 2 groups were compared with Mann-Whitney and Friedman tests, whereas data from the visual analog scale were evaluated by 2-way repeated measures analysis of variance. The color changes between groups were compared using a t test (α = .05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both groups, the authors detected a high risk of TS, which was approximately 90%. No significant difference was observed in terms of TS intensity. A whitening of approximately 3 shade guide units of the VITA Classical was detected in both groups, which were statistically similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of dexamethasone before bleaching did not reduce the risk and intensity of bleaching-induced TS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of the steroidal anti-inflammatory agent dexamethasone was not capable of preventing TS arising from in-office dental bleaching.
authors.forename: Márcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rezende
authors.forename: Elize
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bonafé
authors.forename: Laína
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vochikovski
authors.forename: Paulo Vitor
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Farago
authors.forename: Alessandro Dourado
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Loguercio
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kossatz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care; D014073:Tooth Bleaching / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone
keywords: Dentin sensitivity; anti-inflammatory agents; hydrogen peroxide