Desire for tooth bleaching and treatment performed in Brazilian adults: findings from a birth cohort

Abstract

Population-based studies estimating the prevalence of tooth bleaching desire or the percentage of individuals who had performed this treatment are rare. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the desire to perform tooth bleaching and the prevalence of adult individuals who had performed the treatment and investigate the association of these outcomes. A subsample (n = 536) of the 1982 Pelotas birth cohort in southern Brazil was investigated at the ages 15, 24 and 31 by clinical examinations and interviews. The prevalence of bleaching at 31 years was 15.6% [95%CI 12.6-18.9] while 85.9% reported they desired the treatment. Multivariate Poisson regression analysis showed that individuals who have visited the dentist within the last year showed a treatment prevalence ratio (PR) 2.31 times [95%CI 1.40-3.83] higher compared with those who had the last dental visit more than a year before the interview. Similarly, individuals with smoking habits presented an elevated PR of 1.60 [95%CI 1.00-2.55], and the low-income trajectory group showed the largest PR of desire for tooth bleaching (1.17 [95%CI 1.07-1.28]). Moreover, individuals from the high-risk caries trajectory group presented a higher prevalence of desire for tooth bleaching than individuals from low caries trajectory group. Individuals who have declared being "dissatisfied" with their dental color presented a prevalence of desire for tooth bleaching 16% greater than "satisfied" ones. Thus, the present findings confirm that tooth bleaching has become a frequently desired dental treatment to improve dental aesthetics in the population and a considerable rate of adults has performed the treatment.

Initial and pulp chamber concentration of hydrogen peroxide using different bleaching products

“…T he demand for dental bleaching products has increased significantly over the past year. In some countries, 85.9% of the surveyed adult population have the desire to perform tooth bleaching [1]. Hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide are the most common dentist-supervised products used in dental clinics for bleaching [2].…”

Effect of temperature and storage time on dental bleaching effectiveness

“…In recent decades, the desire for a more aesthetic smile has increased the demand for the bleaching of discolored teeth . Tooth discoloration can occur as a consequence of biological, chemical, or mechanical changes, affecting aesthetic appearance .…”

“…In recent decades, the desire for a more aesthetic smile has increased the demand for the bleaching of discolored teeth. 1,2 Tooth discoloration can occur as a consequence of biological, chemical, or mechanical changes, affecting aesthetic appearance. 3 Oxidizing chemical agents are used to bleach discolored teeth, and these agents can be applied by the professional in the dental office, at home by the patient under professional supervision, or by the patient without supervision, using over-the-counter products.…”

Skin color affect the replacement of amalgam for composite in posterior restorations: a birth-cohort study

“…The literature has shown that the increase of educational level is closely associated with the search for treatments to improve dental esthetics. 17,41 Patients with high socioeconomic status, presenting amalgam restorations, can be more likely to demand replacement of these restorations for esthetic purposes. This may lead to replacement of restoration without clinical indication.…”

“…8 Higher levels of mother's schooling were associated with use of composite resin; on the other hand, patients who use health insurance services and with high caries risk were more likely to have their posterior teeth restored with amalgam. 8,14,15,16 Due to the increase in demands for high aesthetic standards in contemporary society, 17 stimulated in part by the dental materials industry, as well as dental professionals, satisfactory amalgam restorations have been replaced for composite resins restorations even without clinical indication. 18,19 The replacement of restorations only for aesthetic reasons leads to unnecessary loss of healthy tooth structure, 20 especially when involving posterior teeth, which a priori do not interfere with the patient's smile or social interactions.…”