Abstract

Objective: This study assessed IL-1β and RANK-L levels in vivo and color stability of non-vital teeth bleached using hydrogen (35%) and carbamide (37%) peroxides 3 months after treatment. Materials and Methods: Fifty teeth were randomly divided into two groups(n = 25):35% hydrogen peroxide (HP) or 37% carbamide peroxide (CP). Four sessions of intracoronal walking-bleach procedure were performed. IL-1β and RANK-L levels were assessed from gingival crevicular fluid samples (from three vestibular and three palatines sites) at eight different time-points: at the beginning of the study (baseline), after four sessions of intracanal bleaching, and at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months posttreatment. The color variations were visually detected using Vita bleach shade guide (ΔSGU). Results: Significant increases of IL-1β and RANK-L levels were detected at all time-points (all P <.05) when comparing each time-point to baseline, and a high correlation (>0.8—Spearman) between variables. According the ΔSGU values, a color change of five for HP and four for CP were detected. Conclusions: Non-vital walking bleach technique promotes an increase in IL-1β and RANKL levels in periodontal tissues and also, it is maintained until the third-month posttreatment. Clinical Significance: The internal whitening of teeth increases the levels of cytokines associated with inflammation and bone resorption 3 months after the whitening procedure is finished; this should warn of possible harmful effects of this whitening technique.