APPLICATION OF OZONATED SUNFLOWER OIL FOLLOWED BY COLGATE SENSITIVE PRO-RELIEF IN THE CONTROL AND INTENSITY OF SENSITIVITY POST-EXTERNAL DENTAL WHITENING AND COLOR STABILITY: A RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND CLINICAL STUDY

Abstract

Sensitivity after in-office whitening is a common adverse effect that causes discomfort for patients and is often the reason for discontinuing treatment. To reduce this adverse effect, recent studies have shown that ozonated sunflower oil has demonstrated desensitizing potential, and when combined with a fluoride toothpaste containing calcium carbonate and arginine, it could represent a new clinical strategy due to the synergistic action between these compounds. Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of applying ozonated sunflower oil followed by Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief toothpaste in controlling and reducing sensitivity after a single session of dental whitening over 48 hours, as well as assessing color stability. Methodology: Twenty volunteers were subjected to two desensitizing protocols using a split-mouth model, where the upper arch was divided into left and right sides from the midline on a sagittal plane. Groups were randomly assigned using an Excel spreadsheet to determine the control group (CG) and the experimental group (EG). Both sides received a pre-application of potassium nitrate, but only the EG received a post-application of ozonated sunflower oil combined with the toothpaste. In-office whitening was performed with 35% hydrogen peroxide in a single clinical session with a 45-minute application on both groups. Sensitivity intensity during and after the whitening was measured using a visual analog scale for pain, and the whitening effect was assessed using the VITA scale. Collected data were tabulated in Excel and, following exploratory analysis, were subjected to statistical analysis using parametric tests with a 5% significance level, as mean ± standard deviation. A P-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: There was a significant difference in sensitivity between the EG and CG over time, especially at 5 hours, with the CG showing a much higher peak of sensitivity compared to the EG. Sensitivity progressively decreased in both groups over 48 hours but consistently remained lower in the EG at all time points. Conclusion: The tested protocol demonstrated a reduction in sensitivity, particularly in the first 5 hours, and maintained pain control during the subsequent hours up to the final evaluation at 48 hours, compared to the CG, with no interference in color.