Journal of Dental Research, Vol 64, 457-461, Copyright © 1985 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Systematic assessment of color removal following vital bleaching of intrinsically stained teeth
N. S. Seale and W. J. Thrash
Various treatment variables associated with a standard bleaching technique
were systematically recorded in 53 individuals exhibiting intrinsic
discoloration of permanent teeth. These variables (predictors) included:
(1) etiology (fluoride or tetracycline); (2) age of the patient; (3) the
presented color of the stain; (4) the intensity of that color; (5) a long
versus short bleaching time technique; and (6) the number of bleaching
sessions. These were assessed as to their relationship with the results of
treatment (dependent variable). The findings of a multiple regression
analysis revealed that the contributions of the individual predictors were
significantly different between those stains caused by tetracycline
ingestion (N = 27) and those stains due to fluoride ingestion (N = 20). The
analysis also revealed that those variables contributing to a significant
proportion of the variance in results of treatment when tetracycline was
the cause were: (1) the color of the stain and (2) the number of bleaching
sessions. When fluoride was apparently the causal agent: (1) the bleaching
time technique; (2) age of the patient; (3) color of the stain; and (4) the
number of bleaching sessions contributed to a significant proportion of the
variance in the results of treatment.
