VITAL AND NON-VITAL TOOTH BLEACHING PROCEDURES: A SURVEY AMONG DENTISTS FROM ROMANIA

Abstract

Changes in tooth form, texture and shade inevitably accompany the aging of the people. The desire of improving smile appearance leads to an increase in the request of esthetic dental procedures. Bleaching is now the most common and non-invasive esthetic dental treatment. Even if it is considered a cosmetic dental treatment, the dentist always should establish a diagnosis and treatment plan before initiate the procedure. This study aims to evaluate the Romanian dentists approach to vital and non-vital bleaching procedures and to assess if there are correlations between their options and the time of clinical practice or the postgraduate training. The cross-sectional study was undertaken using a closed questionnaire addressed to dentists by online method. The twenty questions focused on the following topics: time of clinical practice, self-perception on safety of the treatment, self-confidence in providing bleaching, postgraduate training, the main technique for vital and non-vital tooth bleaching therapies, first choice material, the use of light activation, the need for desensitizing agents and the attitude towards restorations.

Keywords

• hydrogen peroxide
• carbamide peroxide
• questionnaire
• home bleaching
• walking bleach