Abstract
Invisalign has improved periodontal health in comparison to traditional metal wire braces. Due to a growing interest in attaining better teeth esthetics, there are more adults seeking Invisalign treatment. Ten percent carbamide peroxide (CP) breaks down to 6.5% urea and 3.5% hydrogen peroxide, which elevates oral pH, removes stains, and diminishes caries by inhibiting plaque formation. The aim of this study is to investigate whether 10% CP use during Invisalign treatment can enhance tooth shade esthetics while decreasing plaque levels and improving gingival health indices. Twenty-eight patients at Western University dental center undergoing Invisalign were assigned to two groups where the experimental group applied daily bleaching material (10% CP, Ultradent Inc., South Jordan, UT, USA), while the control group did not for 4 weeks. Tooth shade, plaque index (PI), and gingival index (GI) were assessed at baseline and in 2-week intervals for 6 weeks. Results showed that 10% CP had significant change in tooth shade over the 2- and 4-weeks periods (p < 0.05) and significantly reduced plaque and gingival indices (p < 0.05), with minimal to no relapse after 2 weeks post-op. Thus, applying CP at 10% may be a useful application during Invisalign treatment in improving teeth shade and overall gingival health.
Highlights
Invisalign system with clear thermoplastic polyurethane aligners was first introduced to orthodontic practices in 1996 as an alternative to metal wire orthodontics [1,2]
The advantage of Invisalign aligners included tooth movement, but the removable ability of aligners during normal brushing and eating activities has helped improve oral hygiene, as noted by reduction of plaque accumulation, incidences of gingivitis, and periodontitis, which are commonly seen in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances [3,4,5]
As treatment demographics have changed over the years, orthodontic treatment is no longer limited to children and adolescents since more adults seek orthodontic treatment due to its esthetic appeal and everyday practicality [4]
Summary
Invisalign system with clear thermoplastic polyurethane aligners was first introduced to orthodontic practices in 1996 as an alternative to metal wire orthodontics [1,2]. As treatment demographics have changed over the years, orthodontic treatment is no longer limited to children and adolescents since more adults seek orthodontic treatment due to its esthetic appeal and everyday practicality [4]. Along with the increasing demand for orthodontic treatment, teeth whitening has become a major esthetic goal that patients commonly pursue during or closely after treatment concludes [6]. This has influenced current studies to observe the efficacy of dental bleaching agents within the aligners itself
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