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Effectiveness of 16% Carbamide Peroxide in Reducing Hypersensitivity During Alternate-day Home Bleaching

Efficacy in the Reduction of Hypersensitivity During Home Whitening With 16% Carbamide Peroxide Applied on Alternate Days: a Randomized Clinical Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06035588
Enrollment
110
Registered
2023-09-13
Start date
2024-01-06
Completion date
2025-09-01
Last updated
2025-10-02

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Dental Hypersensitivity, Teeth Whitening

Keywords

bleaching, hipersensitivity, whitening, at-home, carbamide

Brief summary

The concentration of 16% carbamide peroxide is the highest concentration that European regulations allow for use in home whitening (Council directive 2011/84/EU). This concentration allows for faster results, but instead patients may suffer more frequently from dental sensitivity. The most commonly described side effect of all whitening procedures is the appearance of dentin hypersensitivity, hence the efforts to counteract or overcome this adverse effect. The objective of the study is to clinically evaluate the difference in dental hypersensitivity produced by home dental whitening treatment using 16% carbamide peroxide in a tray for two hours daily applied daily or every other day for three weeks.

Detailed description

Volunteers will be instructed to use the whitening gel once a day for 2 hours, completing a total of 3 weeks of whitening procedure. Depending on the randomization, the bleaching procedure will be performed every other day or daily. In the upper arch, the teeth to be whitened will be from 15 to 25. The evaluations of efficacy, dental sensitivity and satisfaction will be carried out in the upper and lower arch. The color will be recorded before, weekly for 1 month, 6 months and 12 months after finishing the treatment. Shade assessment using the subjective method will be recorded with the Vita Classical color scale (Vita Zahnfabrik, Bad Säckingen, Germany), it will also be determined with the Vita 3D-MASTER scale (Vita Zahnfabrik, Bad Säckingen, Germany). For objective evaluation, the Vita Easyshade spectrophotometer (Vita Zahnfabrik, Bad Säckingen, Germany) will be used, according to the CIEL\*a\*b\* system.

Interventions

OTHERDaily whitening

Daily application of a 16% carbamide peroxide bleaching gel in volunteers without sensitivity.

OTHERAlternate whitening

Volunteers will apply the whitening gel at 16% carbamide peroxide, alternating a rest day with an application day. Patients should not be sensitive before starting the study.

Sponsors

Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

The present study presents blinding of both the evaluator and the person who will carry out the statistical analysis, and therefore double-blind. The evaluators are considered blind in this study because they do not know the randomization of the patients, being a blind study. The operator and patients know the groups in which they are assigned, due to the delivery and placement of the splints. A block randomization of the treatment applied to the patients will be carried out, to ensure that the sample size is similar in both groups. The operator will open an envelope for the group's allocation. The assignment of the groups will be carried out using opaque, sealed and sequentially numbered envelopes. The operator will open the envelope when the splints are delivered, and will give the pertinent explanations to the patient. Data will be collected from each patient that may influence treatment results such as age, sex, initial color, systemic pathologies and pharmacological treatments.

Intervention model description

Each volunteer will be given 3 syringes of 16% carbamide peroxide bleaching gel to use on the splint. Volunteers will be instructed to use the whitening gel once a day for 2 hours, completing a total of 3 weeks of whitening procedure. Depending on the randomization, the whitening procedure will be performed on alternate days or daily. In the upper arch, the teeth to be whitened will be from 15 to 25 and in the lower one from 35 to 45.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Patients older than 18 years. * Patients with vital teeth without restorations, single crowns, implants and/or bridges at the level of the anterior teeth. * Absence of cavities in the teeth to be whitened. * Patients with satisfactory oral hygiene and periodontally healthy, who are not undergoing periodontal maintenance and who do not use chlorhexidine mouthwashes. Patients with recessions without presenting sensitivity will be included. * Absence of sensitivity, measured with the application of air with the dental team's syringe. * Patients whose canines have at least an A2-A3 shade (VITA Classic® Guide).

Exclusion criteria

* Patients who have previously undergone whitening (less than 5 years). * Patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. * Patients with white spots or alterations in the development of enamel or with stains. * Patients with a history of trauma to anterior teeth. * Patients who require internal whitening. * Smokers. * Pregnant or lactating. * Patients with allergies to any whitening component. * Patients presenting alterations of the oral mucosa (desquamative gingivitis, oral lichen planus, leukoplakia, etc.). * Patients with medical conditions considered by the researchers that may compromise the study or the individual safety of the patient. * Patients with poor oral hygiene. * Patients with previous hypersensitivity.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Dental Sensitivity Visual Analog Scale (VAS) 0-103 weeksThe aim of this study is to clinically evaluate the incidence of tooth sensitivity induced by home whitening with 16% carbamide peroxide applied in a tray for two hours daily or every other day for three weeks. For the assessment, the operators will apply air to the cervical area of the upper and lower canines and ask the patient if he/she experienced sensitivity at any time during the treatment.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Whitening Efficacy CIEL*a*b*1 monthTo assess whether the efficacy of the 16% carbamide peroxide bleaching treatment described above when used every other day is the same as when used every day, or whether there is a difference in bleaching efficacy. This will be determined at check-ups by measuring the upper and lower canines with the Vita EasyShade V® spectrophotometer, based on the CIEL\*a\*b\* system, according to the CIELAB system, CIEDE2000 and the whiteness index. Where L\* represents the value from 0 (black) to 100 (white) and a\* and b\* represent the colour, where a\* is the measurement along the red-green axis and b\* is the measurement along the yellow-blue axis. In addition, the operators will take shade readings on all 4 canines using the VITA Classical and 3D-MASTER guides.

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Gingival irritation VAS (0-10)3 weeksUsing the Visual Analogue Scale, compare the presence of gingival irritation after every other day bleaching with 16% carbamide peroxide compared to daily application. The patient should rate the gingival irritation experienced on a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being very irritating and 0 being not irritating at all.
Patient's oral quality of life (OHIP-14)1 monthThe impact of treatment outcome on the patient's oral quality of life (OHIP-14) will be assessed using a questionnaire after 16% carbamide peroxide home bleaching. The patient will complete a 14-question questionnaire on a daily basis, regardless of which group he/she belongs to, daily or alternate application.

Countries

Spain

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026