A Clinical Trial to Assess Tooth Sensitivity Associated with Sensitive Whitening Strips
CLINICAL STUDY SYNOPSIS
A Clinical Trial to Assess Tooth Sensitivity Associated with Sensitive Whitening Strips
|
62 Adults enrolled |
0 Adverse events |
0.00 Clinician Schiff score (all visits) |
p = 0.10 No significant difference vs. placebo |
Objective
To evaluate the daily application of sensitive whitening strips to the maxillary teeth over a two-week period on the development of tooth sensitivity, as compared with a negative control (placebo).
Process
This single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study enrolled 62 adult subjects who were randomized into two groups. Group A received the GuruNanda sensitive whitening strips, while Group B used an identical-looking placebo strip. Both groups applied their assigned product once daily for two weeks and were assessed at three time points — Baseline, Week 1, and Week 2.
Sensitivity was measured using three standardized methods: the Schiff Cold Air Sensitivity Scale (0–3) via evaporative air-blast testing, tactile sensitivity testing via a calibrated periodontal probe, and subject-reported sensitivity on a Visual Analog Scale (VAS, 0–10). Subjects also maintained a daily sensitivity diary throughout the 14-day study period. All assessments were performed by the same California-licensed dental examiner. Oral soft tissue examinations were conducted at every visit. Statistical analysis of diary data used the Mann-Whitney U Test for between-group comparisons.
|
Group |
Product |
Subjects |
Description |
|
Group A |
GuruNanda 2% H₂O₂ Whitening Strip |
31 subjects |
Active product applied once daily for 2 weeks |
|
Group B |
Placebo Strip (identical appearance) |
31 subjects |
Placebo applied once daily for 2 weeks |
Results
1. Clinician-Assessed Sensitivity (Schiff Cold Air Sensitivity Scale)
Both groups began the study with mean Schiff scores of 0.00. At Week 1 and Week 2, scores remained at 0.00 in both groups across all three clinician-administered measures (Schiff scale, tactile threshold, and VAS). No clinically meaningful sensitivity was recorded at any time point.
|
Assessment |
Group |
Baseline |
Week 1 |
Week 2 |
|
Schiff Score (0–3) |
Arm 1 (Product A) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Schiff Score (0–3) |
Arm 2 (Product B) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Tactile Threshold (g) |
Arm 1 (Product A) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Tactile Threshold (g) |
Arm 2 (Product B) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
VAS Score (0–10) |
Arm 1 (Product A) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
VAS Score (0–10) |
Arm 2 (Product B) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Figure 1. Mean Schiff Cold Air Sensitivity Scores by visit — both groups remained at 0.00 throughout the study.
2. Subject-Reported Diary Sensitivity
Mean diary sensitivity scores were low in both groups throughout the study. Group A recorded an overall mean diary score of 0.09 (out of 2.0), with a Week 1 mean of 0.11 declining to 0.06 in Week 2. Group B recorded an overall mean of 0.05, with a Week 1 mean of 0.06 declining to 0.03 in Week 2. The between-group difference was not statistically significant (Mann-Whitney U = 530.0, p = 0.10). Scores trended downward in both groups from Week 1 to Week 2, indicating no cumulative sensitization with continued daily use.

Figure 2. Mean subject-reported diary sensitivity scores by study period. Both groups remained well below the midpoint of the scale throughout.
3. Sensitivity Category Distribution (Subject-Reported)
Of subjects in Group A, 69% reported no sensitivity at any point during the study, 27.6% reported mild sensitivity on at least one day, and 3.4% (one subject) reported moderate sensitivity on at least one day. In Group B, 87.1% reported no sensitivity at any point and 12.9% reported mild sensitivity. No subject in either group reported severe sensitivity (score = 3) at any time point.

Figure 4. Sensitivity category distribution across all 14 diary days. The majority of subjects in both groups reported no sensitivity throughout the study.
4. Sensitivity Summary Table
|
Measure |
Group A – Whitening Strip (n=31) |
Group B – Placebo (n=31) |
|
Schiff score – Baseline |
0.00 |
0.00 |
|
Schiff score – Week 1 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
|
Schiff score – Week 2 |
0.00 |
0.00* |
|
Subjects with any diary sensitivity |
9 (31.0%) |
4 (12.9%) |
|
Subjects with mild sensitivity only |
8 (27.6%) |
4 (12.9%) |
|
Subjects with moderate sensitivity |
1 (3.4%) |
0 (0.0%) |
|
Overall mean diary score (SD) |
0.09 (0.17) |
0.05 (0.18) |
|
Week 1 mean diary score |
0.11 |
0.06 |
|
Week 2 mean diary score |
0.06 |
0.03 |
|
Mann-Whitney U (p-value) |
— |
U=530.0, p=0.10 |
*One subject (EXP 051) in Group B recorded Schiff scores of 1 on teeth #8 and #9 at Week 2 only. This was assessed as not attributable to the investigational product, as the subject was in the placebo arm.
5. Oral Soft Tissue Safety
All oral soft tissue sites — including the gingiva, labial and buccal mucosa, palate, tongue, floor of the mouth, and oropharynx — were assessed as 100% normal in both groups at every clinic visit (Baseline, Week 1, Week 2). No product-related abnormalities were observed at any point during the study.
|
Adverse Events No adverse events were reported or recorded in either group throughout the entire study period. |
Conclusion
The GuruNanda sensitive whitening strips were found to be safe and well tolerated over a two-week period of daily use. Clinician-assessed sensitivity scores — measured by the Schiff Cold Air Sensitivity Scale, tactile threshold testing, and Visual Analog Scale — were zero across both the whitening strip and placebo groups at every clinic visit, with no sensitivity detected by the examining dentist in either group at any time point.
Subject-reported diary scores were low in both groups throughout the study, and the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (p = 0.10), meaning the whitening strip group experienced a level of day-to-day sensitivity that was statistically indistinguishable from that of the placebo group. Sensitivity scores also trended downward from Week 1 to Week 2, confirming that continued daily use did not lead to any accumulation of sensitivity over time.
All oral soft tissues remained 100% healthy throughout the study, and no adverse events were recorded in either group. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that the GuruNanda sensitive whitening strips are as well tolerated as a placebo and supports its safety for daily use over a two-week whitening regimen.

