Priority 24 from the Oral and Dental Health PSP

UNCERTAINTY: What are the long-term health effects (including harms) of tooth whitening? (JLA PSP Priority 24)
Overall ranking 24
JLA question ID 0079/24
Explanatory note

Not available for this PSP
Evidence

Comparison to no treatment/placebo. In terms of health outcomes, low quality evidence 
Regarding adverse events, most commonly reported were tooth sensitivity and oral irritation (more prevalent with higher concentrations of the active ingredient). Some evidence that activation of bleaching agents by heat, light or laser may have an adverse effect on pulpal tissue. All studies are short-term and predominantly sponsored or conducted by the manufacturers. Long term evidence on oral health related quality of life and adverse events is missing. 

For full details of the evidence checked, please see the spreadsheet of data held on the JLA website.
Health Research Classification System category  Oral and gastrointestinal
Extra information provided by this PSP
Original uncertainty examples The original questions concerned the risks of teeth whitening treatments: do they cause damage to the teeth, which kind contribute to the health and overall appearance of the teeth, and how best, if at all, should they be used?
Submitted by  1 x patients, carers or members of public, 3 x health professionals
PSP information
PSP unique ID 0079
PSP name Oral and Dental Health
Total number of uncertainties identified by this PSP 38  (To see a full list of all uncertainties identified, please see the detailed spreadsheet held on the JLA website)
Date of priority setting workshop 12 December 2018