Potassium Nitrate and Post-bleaching Sensitivity

This study will be a randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial, and split mouth study design.

The patients included will be submitted to two in-office bleaching sessions receiving the potassium nitrate 5% or placebo gel (prior the bleaching session, for 10 minutes), associated to normal toothpaste or potassium nitrate containing toothpaste (15 days prior and during the bleaching procedure).

A delay of 1 week between the sessions will be established.

Participants:

Patients included in this clinical trial will be between 18 and 29 years old with good oral health, all anterior tooth healthy and to agree with TCLE (Term of Free and Informed Consent). Only patients presenting all six upper anterior teeth with shade mismatching with 2.5 M2 (VitaClassicalscale, Vita-Zahnfabrik, Bad Sackingen, Germany).

Patients with any of the six upper anterior teeth with caries, restoration, severe discoloration (e.g., stains caused by tetracycline), enamel hypoplasia, gingival recession, dentin exposure, pulpitis, or endodontics will be excluded. Participants submitted to previous bleaching procedures, presenting prior tooth sensitivity, known allergy to any component of medication used in the study, pregnant or breastfeeding, lack the tretament will be also excluded.

Sample Size Calculation:

The sample calculation will be based on the primary binary outcome (sensitivity risk 24 hours after the procedure) for superiority trial. Power of the test will be set at 80%, considering a type I error of 0.05; risk to tooth sensitivity for control and experimental group of 25,2% with reduction of 60%. The calculation resulted in 75 patients.

Randomization:

A randomized list will be computer-generated by a person not involved in intervention or evaluation. The participants were defined as blocks in the randomization process, where the sequence of treatment (placebo or etodolac) will be randomly set for each block by using computer-generated tables (www.sealedenvelope.com). The sequence will be inserted into sealed envelopes numbered from 1 to 75 that were opened by the operator only at the moment of the intervention. The patients were numbered according to the sequence of enrollment. Neither the participant nor the operator will know the group allocation determining blinding to the protocol.

Baseline evaluation:

Prior to bleaching procedure, the teeth will be cleaned using rubber cups associated to pumice and water. The shades of six upper anterior teeth will be assessed on a baseline using the Vita classical guide scale.

Intervention:

Prior to each bleaching session, the patients will receive the potassium nitrate 2% or placebo Gel for 10 minutes. Also, Normal and potassium nitrate toothpaste will be used before and during the bleaching tretament, as follows: group 1: placebo gel + Colgate toothpaste; Group 2: Placebo gel + Nitrate toothpaste Sensodyne and Group 3: Potassium Nitrate + Colgate toothpaste.

Neither the operators responsible for intervention and evaluation nor the patients knew the content which treatment will be done.

A light-cured resin dam will be applied on the gingival tissue corresponding to the teeth to be bleached.

A 35% hydrogen peroxide based bleaching agent (DFL) will be mixed and applied on the vestibular surface of teeth, remaining for 40 minutes. After this time, the bleaching agent will be removed. A second session will be carried out after 1 week following the same procedures.

Evaluations:

The tooth sensitivity reported by patients will be assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) and verbal rating scale (VRS). The VAS consisted of a scale 10 cm in length ranging from green (absence of pain) to red (unsupportable pain). The patient set his or her level of sensitivity by pointing to the color corresponding to this level, while the distance from this point to the green border will be recorded. For VRS, the patient reported his or her level of sensitivity based on scores: 0 = none, 1 = light, 2 = moderate, 3 = considerable and 4 = severe. The tooth sensitivity will be assessed during the bleaching, immediately after bleaching agent removal and after 24 hours. For this last assessment, only the VRS will be used. Tooth sensitivity will be measure: baseline, at 40 minutes during the bleaching procedure, after the bleaching procedure and 24 hours after. One week after each session the tooth color will be evaluated again using the same procedure described previously.