Purpose:
To determine if external bleaching procedures produce permanent damage on vital teeth
Materials/Methods:
- N= 51 human, caries-free, intact premolars indicated for orthodontic extraction in 19 patients
- Thermostatically controlled heat and 35 % hydrogen peroxide placed externally for 30 min periods; and twice more separated by a week each. Teeth were extracted at the following intervals: 1 hour, 3 days, 15 days, and 30 days for histological exam. Contralateral premolar used as control
Results:
- All treated teeth became lighter in color and remained so for as long as 30 days after treatment
- Patients reported sensitivity to cold and intermittent, spontaneous pain that lasted for 24 hours or less in 14 patients; one patient reported symptoms for 48 hours
- A non-significant number of cases saw aspiration of odontoblastic nuclei into the dentinal tubules (can be induced by intrapulpal pressure, including forceps removal) at the CEJ
Clinical Significance:
This study shows no damage to vital, healthy pulps to external bleaching with heat and 35 % hydrogen peroxide