Influence of treatment duration on the efficacy of at-home bleaching with daytime application: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine whether prolonging the daytime at-home bleaching treatment by 1 week increases the bleaching effect without causing more side effects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty participants were randomly divided into two groups, (A) with a 14-day treatment and (B) with a 21-day treatment. A gel with 10% carbamide peroxide was applied for 2 h a day in custom trays. Color measurement was performed using a dental spectrophotometer on the right maxillary central incisor and the canine at baseline, at the end of treatment, and 1 and 6 months afterwards. Daily, participants recorded their tooth sensitivity and gingival irritation.

RESULTS: At the end of the treatment, the ΔE00 of group B (5.77 ± 2.15) was significantly higher than the ΔE00 of group A (4.74 ± 1.94) (p = 0.005 (95% CI: - 2.13 to - 0.39)). After 6 months, tooth color was more stable in group B. The ΔSGU values between the different appointment times were higher in the 3-week group. Participants from group B reported more side effects, but statistically, there were no differences compared with group A (p = 0.225 for tooth sensitivity and p = 0.758 for gingival irritation).

CONCLUSIONS: Daytime application of at-home bleaching for 3 weeks achieves greater bleaching results than for 2 weeks, immediately after treatment and 1 and 6 months afterwards. However, slightly more side effects could occur.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: When daytime application of at-home bleaching is required, the treatment duration should be prolonged from 2 to 3 weeks to achieve greater and more stable results.