Long-term use of 6.5% hydrogen peroxide bleaching strips on tetracycline stain: a clinical study.

UNLABELLED: This study evaluated the clinical response following extended daily use of a trayless 6.5% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) tooth bleaching gel in patients with tetracycline stains. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this clinical trial, participants (N = 30) were assigned to a strip product following screening for tetracycline staining. Subjects used the product for 6 months, with clinical safety and efficacy measurements assessed at the end of each month. The strips were used for 30 minutes twice daily (maxillary arch only). Treatment efficacy was determined by the tooth color change from baseline using an expanded VITA shade guide. Additional shades were added on either side, representing colors whiter than B1 and darker than C4. RESULTS: The strips averaged shade reduction in Months 1, 2, and 3 visits, respectively. Of all the subjects, 65% reached B1 color by Month 6. Treatment was generally well tolerated. Mild and transient tooth sensitivity (46.7%) and oral discomfort (43.3%) were the most common adverse events associated with daily bleaching, yet neither affected study participation. CONCLUSIONS: The 6.5% H2O2 bleaching strip provided significant tooth whitening in subjects with tetracycline stains. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: When used daily for 6 months, a 6.5% H2O2 bleaching strip can be effective in whitening tetracycline stains. The professional strip was well tolerated throughout the 6-month period. This extended use provides additional evidence of clinical safety associated with the use of this product for vital bleaching.

Restoring anterior maxillary dentition using alumina- and zirconia-based CAD/CAM restorations.

Despite proven strength, durability, and improved esthetics, ceramometal restorations have not consistently enabled the most esthetic, lifelike reproduction of natural dentition. Also, inherent weaknesses in many metal-free materials have precluded their use in the high stress-bearing posterior region. Therefore, as a result of the need for esthetic and durable all-ceramic restorations, manufacturers have introduced ceramics with an increased alumina or zirconia content that are recommended for placement anywhere in the mouth for single units and as far back as the first premolar.

Maintenance of whitening with a power toothbrush after bleaching treatment.

A randomized, parallel, examiner-blind clinical study was conducted to examine the ability of 2 toothbrushes to maintain teeth whitening after at-home bleaching. Forty subjects used a 15% carbamide peroxide tray bleaching system at home for 2 weeks per the manufacturer's instructions and then were randomly assigned to use either the Sonicare Advance power toothbrush or a manual toothbrush as part of their home oral hygiene routine for 6 months. The color of the labial surfaces of the subjects' maxillary anterior dentition was assessed before bleaching and immediately, 2 months, 3 months, and 6 months after bleaching. Color was assessed by comparison with Vita Classical shade tabs and by digital image analysis in the CIE L*a*b* color space. Both groups demonstrated a rebound effect at the 2-month visit and beyond, with mean Vita shade scores significantly higher than immediately after bleaching. At the 6-month evaluation, a significant difference in the amount of rebound in each group was observed. Specifically, the rebound of the Sonicare brush group was on average 1.12 Vita shades less than that of the manual brush group. The 6-month difference was confirmed through digital image analysis, with the Sonicare brush group 4.8 L* units lighter, corresponding to 2 Vita shades, and 2.1 b* units less yellow than the manual brush group. This clinical trial demonstrates that the Sonicare Advance toothbrush better maintains whitening after bleaching treatment than a manual toothbrush.

Daily use of whitening strips on tetracycline-stained teeth: comparative results after 2 months.

This article reviews the efficacy of a new 6.5% hydrogen peroxide tooth-whitening gel strip for bleaching teeth that have been intrinsically stained from tetracycline. Given the severity of staining in the cases presented during a recently conducted clinical trial, the resulting efficacy is dramatic. Additionally, the continuous use of these strips for 30 minutes per day, twice daily for 2 months with no meaningful adverse effects is noteworthy.