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Peroxide interactions with hard tissues: effects on surface hardness and surface/subsurface ultrastructural
Donald J White1, Kathy M Kozak, James R Zoladz
1Procter & Gamble Company, Mason, Ohio, USA.
Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry (Jamesburg, N.J. : 1995)
|March 27, 2002
Summary
Peroxide tooth bleaching, including Crest Whitestrips, safely impacts enamel surface and subsurface properties. Studies show no adverse effects on hardness or ultrastructure, even with overuse.
Area of Science:
- Dental materials science
- Biomaterials
- Tooth whitening
Background:
- Peroxide bleaching is a common cosmetic dental procedure.
- Concerns exist regarding potential adverse effects on enamel structure and properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of peroxide bleaching agents on human enamel's physical and ultrastructural properties.
- To assess the safety of commercial bleaching systems, including Crest Whitestrips, under normal and excessive use conditions.
Main Methods:
- Human enamel blocks were subjected to cyclic bleaching treatments with carbamide and hydrogen peroxide gels.
- Surface hardness and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were used for analysis.
- Control groups included non-treated and placebo gel treatments.
Main Results:
- Tooth color measurements confirmed effective bleaching with a dose-response relationship.
- No significant decrease in enamel surface hardness was observed.
- CLSM revealed no alterations to enamel surface or subsurface prism architecture, unlike demineralization effects.
Conclusions:
- Crest Whitestrips formulas demonstrate safety for enamel surfaces and subsurfaces.
- Peroxide bleaching of hard dental tissues is safe under both recommended and excessive use scenarios.