High-efficiency tooth bleaching using non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma with low concentration of hydrogen peroxide

Light-activated tooth bleaching with a high hydrogen peroxide (HP;H₂O₂) concentration has risks and the actual role of the lightsource is doubtful. The use of conventional light might result in an increase in thetemperature and cause thermal damage to the health of the tooth tissue.

Objective:

This study investigated the efficacy of tooth bleaching using non-thermal atmosphericpressure plasma (NAPP) with 15% carbamide peroxide (CP;CH₆N₂O₃) including 5.4% HP, as compared withconventional light sources.

Material and Methods:

Forty human teeth were randomly divided into four groups: Group I (CP+NAPP), Group II(CP+plasma arc lamp; PAC), Group III (CP+diode laser), and Group IV (CP alone). Colorchanges (ΔE ) of the tooth and tooth surface temperatures weremeasured. Data were evaluated by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) andpost-hoc Tukey''s tests.

Results:

Group I showed the highest bleaching efficacy, with a ΔE value of1.92-, 2.61 and 2.97-fold greater than those of Groups II, III and IV, respectively(P<0.05). The tooth surface temperature was maintained around 37ºC in Group I, but itreached 43ºC in Groups II and III.

Conclusions:

The NAPP has a greater capability for effective tooth bleaching than conventionallight sources with a low concentration of HP without causing thermal damage. Toothbleaching using NAPP can become a major technique for in-office bleaching in the nearfuture.