Application Tip and Concentration of a Self-mixing Bleach: Hydrogen Peroxide Inside the Pulp Chamber, Color Change, and Amount of Bleaching Gel Used Available to Purchase

The objective of this study was to evaluate if the application method (tip with brush or tip without brush) and hydrogen peroxide (HP) concentration (6% or 35% self-mixing) of in-office bleaching gel influences the penetration of HP into the pulp chamber, color change, and the amount of bleaching gel used.

Forty healthy premolars were randomly divided into the following five groups (n=8): no treatment; HP6% using a tip with a brush, HP6% using a tip without a brush, HP35% using a tip with a brush, and HP35% using a tip without a brush. After treatments, the HP concentration (μg/mL) within the pulp chamber was determined using UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The color change (ΔE_ab, ΔE₀₀, and ΔWI_D) was evaluated using a digital spectrophotometer. The amount of gel used (g) in each group was measured using a precision analytical balance. Data from each test were submitted to parametric tests (α=0.05).

The tip with a brush resulted in a lower amount of HP inside the pulp chamber and less gel used when compared with the tip without a brush, regardless of HP concentration (p<0.05). However, regarding the tip used, although no significant difference was observed when HP35% was used (p>0.05), a higher whitening effect was observed when the 6% HP was applied without a brush as opposed to with a tip brush (p<0.05).

The use of a tip with a brush, regardless of the in-office bleaching gel concentration (6% or 35% self-mixing), presented a lower penetration and lower volume of spent gel when compared to a tip without brush. However, the whitening effect depended on the concentration of HP used.