Comparative Clinical Study of the Effectiveness of Three Different Bleaching Methods

Objective: The current study assessed the efficacy of three current bleaching methods. Methods: Seventy-five healthy subjects (45 female; 30 male) with anterior teeth, having a Vita. Shade score of A2 or darker, participated in the study. The subjects were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: Group A. home-bleaching (Illumine Home, 10% carbamide peroxide, trays, overnight, for two weeks), Group B: inoffice bleaching (Illumine Office, 15% hydrogen peroxide, trays for 45 minutes, three times over three weeks), Group C: Whitestrips (strips, twice a day, 30 minutes each for two weeks). Following the screening visit, three weeks prior to the baseline examination, all subjects received a dental prophylaxis. The color of the teeth was determined using a colorimeter (ShadeEye NCC) and a custom-made stent at baseline (E-0), immediately after completion of the bleaching (E-3) and three months after treatment (E-4). All subjects received oral hygiene instructions and a toothbrush and toothpaste for oral home care during the study period. The change of tooth color was determined for each treatment regimen between baseline and E-3 and baseline and E-4 and was statistically analyzed performing the Kruskal Wallis test and the Mann-Whitney-U test. The significance level was set at p<0.01. Results: The dropout rate was 0%. Mean (SD) Delta E* (overall color change) from baseline to immediately after treatment was 6.57 (2.13) for Group A, 5.77(1.72) for Group B and 3.58 (1.57) for Group C. The mean (SD) tooth color change from baseline to three months after treatment Delta E* was: 4.98(1.34) for Group A, 4.59 (1.42) for Group B and 2.99 (1.39) for Group C. Significant differences were found between home bleaching and Whitestrips, as well as between in-office bleaching and Whitestrips, but not between home-bleaching and in-office bleaching during the same time. Conclusion: Using an objective color measurement device, home bleaching and in-office bleaching were found to be superior to Whitestrips. Home bleaching and in-office bleaching were equally efficient for bleaching teeth and maintaining the results for up to three months.