Whitening products commonly utilize hydrogen peroxide (HP) as an active principle, which can penetrate dental tissues with potential side effects due to its low molecular weight. This study aimed to evaluate the HP diffusion of two in-office whitening products, namely 6% VivaStyle Paint On Plus (VS) and Opalescence Boost 40% (OP), in different tooth types. Additionally, the influence of the area of exposure, dental tissue thickness and pulp chamber volume was assessed. Each group consisted of eighteen intact anterior (A), premolar (PM) and molar (M) human teeth, and a positive pulpal pressure model was employed. The samples were analyzed using spectrophotometry, and results were expressed as the mean and 95% confidence interval. Statistical tests and linear regression models were appropriately applied at α = 5%. The total HP (µg) retrieved was as follows: VS-A, 1.333 [1.214, 1.452]; OP-A, 1.538 [1.457, 1.620]; VS-PM, 1.208 [1.123, 1.291]; OP-PM, 3.628 [3.401, 3.855]; VS-M, 2.560 [2.297, 2.823]; and OP-M, 4.197 [3.997, 4.396], with statistically significant differences in diffusion kinetics between whitening products for PM and M. Several HP concentrations attained a minimum cytotoxicity value of 2.22 µg/mL. The regression model shows that OP exposed the pulp chamber to 1.421 µg of HP more than that of VS. Different whitening products can cause cytotoxic HP concentrations in the pulp chamber, with a higher risk observed in molars.
Keywords: cytotoxicity; hydrogen peroxide diffusion; positive pulpal pressure; teeth whitening.