Effect of Light-Activated Tooth Whitening on Color Change Relative to Color of Artificially Stained Teeth

Evaluation of tooth color change after a bleaching process with different lasers

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the efficiency of diode laser-activated bleaching systems for color change of teeth. 75 extracted teeth were studied in five different bleaching protocols. Group 1: diode laser 445 nm, 320 µm fiber, 0.5W, continuous wave mode, dose 53 J/cm2. Group 2: diode laser 970 nm, 320 µm fiber, 1W, continuous wave mode, dose 106.10 J/cm2. Group 3: diode laser 940 nm, bleaching handpiece, 7W, continuous wave mode, dose 105 J/cm2. Group 4: diode laser 940 nm, 300 µm fiber, 2W, continuous wave mode, dose 47.16 J/cm2. Group 5: bleaching process without laser activation. In groups 1, 2 and 5, teeth were bleached with Perfect Bleach Office + and in groups 3 and 4, LaserWhite20 bleaching gel was used. Tooth color was determined immediately after the bleaching process using a spectrophotometer. Color change data on the CIE L * a * b* system was analyzed statistically by the one-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test. All bleaching procedures resulted in a change of color. All laser groups (∆E * ab > 3) have statistically larger ∆E * ab values than the control group (∆E * ab = 0.73) (p < 0.05). The diode laser 445 nm has the largest ∆E * ab value (∆E * ab = 4.65) and results in a significantly higher color difference than all other groups. In terms of color score difference in VITA Shades, all laser-activated groups lead to a lightening effect while the control group leads to only a slight lightening effect. The diode laser 445 nm produced the greatest color difference. Laser-activated bleaching is more effective than conventional bleaching without light activation. The diode laser 445 nm performs best in this in vitro study.

The impact of the diode laser 940 nm photoactivated bleaching on color change of different composite resin restorations

The study's main objective was to evaluate as well as compare the impact of diode laser 940 nm and conventional in-office bleaching technique on the color change of different composite resin restorations. A total of ninety composite resin discs (CRDs) were made from Filtek™ Bulk Fill, nanohybrid composite resin Filtek™ Z550 XT Universal Restorative, and flowable composite resin restoration Filtek™ Z350xt Flowable Composite. Group A: (30) CRD for Filtek™ Bulk Fill, group B: (30) CRD for Filtek™ Z550 XT Universal Restorative, and group C: (30) CRD for Filtek™ Z350xt Flowable Composite. A1, B1, and C1: (10 CRD in each group): Control group without bleaching. A2, B2, and C2: 10 CRD in each group bleached with Laser White20 without laser activation. A3, B3, and C3: 10 CRD in each group bleached with Laser White20 and activated by diode laser 940 nm. The color was evaluated using a dental spectrophotometer. One-way ANOVA was utilized for the comparison of the color stability of the CRD. P < 0.05 is regarded as statically significant. Both conventional and diode laser in-office vital tooth bleaching protocols affected the color stability of composite resin restorations. The result demonstrated that bleaching without laser activation produced color change (mean [8.30], standard deviation [SD] (1.95) P [< 0.001]), whereas the bleaching and activation by diode laser produced color change (mean [8.11], SD [1.99], P [< 0.001]). Both types of bleaching protocol affected composite resin restorations' color stability. In all tested materials, color changes after the bleaching protocol were clinically perceptible. The restorations following the bleaching procedure are required to be replaced by clinicians.

Effect of photo-thermal acceleration on in-office bleaching

The purpose is to evaluate the effect of photo-thermal acceleration on in-office bleaching efficiency using a bleaching agent without photocatalysts in vitro. Artificially discolored bovine lower incisors were prepared, and the mixed in-office bleaching material contained hydrogen peroxide 23% was applied by following treatment for 10 min: high-(HI group) and low-intensity LED lights (LI group), oven at 38 °C (OV group), and room temperature at 23 °C (RT group). Color was measured before and after bleaching and color difference (∆E*) was calculated. The data were statistically analyzed using a two-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test. The temperature change (∆T) of applied bleaching agent in HI and LI groups was measured using a thermography and was analyzed using a T test. The bleaching procedures were repeated 6 times. Irradiation in the HI group resulted in the highest ΔE, followed by the LI group whose ΔE was significantly lower. Both irradiated modes exhibited higher ΔE compared to non-irradiated OV and RT groups which were not significantly different from each other. The average temperature rise of bleaching agents in HI and LI groups after 10 min irradiation was 15.00 °C and 11.80 °C, respectively. The effect of photo-thermal acceleration was proved for an in-office bleaching agent without photocatalysts in vitro.

Effect of Three Wavelengths of Diode Laser on the Efficacy of Bleaching of Stained Teeth

Objectives:

Light irradiation and heat have been used to accelerate the process of tooth bleaching. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of conventional bleaching compared to laser-bleaching using three different wavelengths of diode lasers.

Materials and Methods:

In this in-vitro experimental study, 40 extracted human central incisors were immersed in a coloring solution made of tea, coffee, and cola for 21 days. The L*, a*, and b* color parameters were measured before and after the immersion using spectrophotometry. The teeth were then randomly divided into four groups (n=10) as follows: group 1: 810-nm diode laser + Biolase Laser White 20, group 2: 940-nm diode laser + Biolase Laser White 20, group 3: 980-nm diode laser + Biolase Laser White 20, and group 4: conventional bleaching with Opalescence Boost without laser irradiation. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess the effect of laser type and bleaching technique on color parameters.

Results:

The 940-nm (ΔE=28.5896) and 810-nm laser groups (ΔE=21.2382) showed the highest and the lowest bleaching efficacy, respectively; however, the groups were not significantly different in terms of bleaching efficacy (P>0.05).

Conclusion:

Laser-bleaching with 810-, 940- and 980-nm wavelengths of diode laser has an efficacy similar to that of conventional bleaching but in a shorter period. No difference was noted between different laser wavelengths in terms of bleaching efficacy.

Bleaching Stained Arrested Caries Lesions: In vivo Clinical Study

Objective  Conservative approaches to esthetically treat stained arrested caries lesions (s-ACLs) have not been explored in clinical studies. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of in-office dental bleaching agent, as a conservative approach, to esthetically treat s-ACLs.

Materials and Methods  Twelve patients ( n = 46) presented with s-ACLs were treated with 40% hydrogen peroxide (in-office bleaching protocol; 20 minutes × 3). Color values were measured using a spectrophotometer (CIE L*a*b*), aided with digital photography to assess visual color change clinically. Measurements were taken for each specimen at baseline and immediately after bleaching.

Statistical Analysis  The color change calculated before and after bleaching for each dental substrate was analyzed using paired t -test (α = 0.05).

Results  The bleached s-ACLs had a significant increase in L * values ( p < 0.001), and a significant decrease in both a * ( p = 0.001) and b * ( p = 0.007) values, indicating lighter color improvement (bleaching efficacy). The baseline mean of L *, a *, and b * values were 61.5, 2, and 15.4, respectively, and after bleaching were 67.7, 1.4, and 13.3, respectively, with a mean increase in ∆ E of >7.9, which resulted in a visible clinical stain improvement as orange/light brown stains were removed completely, while gray/black stains improved to a lesser extent.

Conclusion  Significant color improvement was observed when the in-office bleaching protocol (40% hydrogen peroxide) was used in orange/brown s-ACLs. However, it showed lesser improvement in gray/black s-ACLs.

The Effect of Delivery System and Light Activation on Tooth Whitening Efficacy and Hydrogen Peroxide Penetration

PURPOSE

To evaluate the whitening efficacy of a new two-layer technology in-office system compared to a conventional gel-type system and determine hydrogen peroxide penetration (HPP) into the pulp cavity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Extracted molars (n = 60) were assigned to group NC: glycerol gel; group QPRO: 20% HP varnish (Zoom Quick Pro, Philips Oral Healthcare); group ZOOM_NL: 25% HP gel (Zoom Chairside Whitening); and group ZOOM_WL: 25% HP gel (Zoom Chairside Whitening) with light-activation. HPP levels were estimated with leucocrystal-violet and horseradish-peroxidase. Instrumental color measurements were performed at baseline (T₀ ), 1-day post first whitening (T₁ ), 1-day post second whitening (T₂ ), 1-day post third whitening (T₃ ), and 1-month post whitening (T₄ ). One-way analysis of variance followed by post hoc Tukey's HSD test was performed to detect difference in ΔE* and HP penetration levels (α = 0.05).

RESULTS

ΔE* of NC was lower than other groups, whereas ΔE* of ZOOM_WL was greater than the other three groups, at T₃ and T₄ . Mean HPP level obtained from ZOOM_WL (1.568 ± 0.753 μg/mL) was significantly greater than those obtained from the other groups, whereas the mean HPP level observed in NC group (-0.131 ± 0.003 μg/mL) was significantly lower than the other groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Tooth whitening efficacy and HPP levels vary based on whitening systems used.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The two-layer technology in-office varnish system may be an alternative whitening option to reduce chair time in the office. (J Esthet Restor Dent 28:313-320, 2016).