Attitude of Ajman University Dental Undergraduate Students and Residents to Vital and Non-Vital Bleaching

Abstract

The management of tooth discoloration has become a challenge, especially as people are keeping their teeth for longer. Discoloration can affect both primary and secondary teeth alike. The causes of tooth discoloration are multifactorial with different parts of the tooth taking up different stains. Bleaching can improve the whiteness of teeth significantly and at the same time is considered to be a conservative aesthetic procedure. To evaluate the attitude of undergraduate dental students to vital and non-vital bleaching. Additionally, to review and identify the best evidence papers for single tooth bleaching. Objectives of the study was to evaluate the attitude of undergraduate dental students to vital and non-vital bleaching. Additionally, to review and identify the best evidence papers for single tooth bleaching. Materials and methods used for this study is in two parts. For the first part of the work, a 12-point questionnaire was designed and distributed among the target population of final year dental students and residents at Ajman University. As well as confidence in providing vital and non-vital bleaching, the survey also focused on a number of other issues such as opinion on delivery of bleaching by non-dental professionals and the teaching received on bleaching. The data gleaned from the questionnaire were analysed and presented in the form of tables and bar charts. Statistical tests were also applied to check for significant differences (P<0.05). The second part of the study was a comprehensive literature review to identify the best method for single tooth bleaching (intra-coronal bleaching). The results of the review were successfully applied to two single tooth bleaching cases. Results found that the completed returned questionnaires 201(100%) were analysed and the data tabulated. It was found that undergraduate dental students were more confident at providing vital than non-vital bleaching and this was statistically significant (P<0.000001). Eighty-four percent of the students agreed that vital bleaching was safe compared with 80% for non-vital bleaching. On the other hand, only 5% agreed that it was safe for beauty salons to provide bleaching. This finding was also statistically significant (P<0.00001). A literature search on intra-coronal bleaching yielded 78,588 papers. Two of these papers were deemed best evidence papers and they were clinical trials. Both papers compared the efficacy of different intra-coronal bleaching techniques. The bleaching protocols obtained from the papers was applied successfully to treating two complex cases of single tooth bleaching cases. It is concluded that undergraduate dental students were more confident in carrying out vital than non-vital bleaching. The great majority do not agree with the concept of beauty salons providing bleaching. Carbamide peroxide and sodium perborate can provide similar aesthetic results as hydrogen peroxide if applied correctly.