Influence of gel color on in vitro surface and intrapulpal temperature rise during blue light-activated tooth bleaching.

This study evaluated the null hypothesis that the color of a bleaching gel has no effect on temperature because it absorbs the light used during photocuring. This study used 10 maxillary central incisors (offering endodontic access) and a digital thermometer with thermocouples. One end of the thermocouple was placed on the labial surface (immersed in bleaching gel); the other end was placed in the pulp chamber. The bleaching materials each offered two color options: blue and red. The bleaching agents were activated with a LED hybrid blue light photocuring unit and a low intensity diode laser. Based on the blue light-activated bleaching, it was determined that the red gel produced significantly higher temperature increases than the blue gel. No significant differences were found between the two brands of gel tested.