Impact of Crest Night Effects bleaching gel on dental enamel, dentin and key restorative materials. In vitro studies

To examine the effects of a paint-on 19% sodium percarbonate 'overnight' bleaching gel on the structure and integrity of enamel, dentin and some common restorative materials, with a laboratory cycling model.

Enamel, root dentin and restorative materials (glass-ionomer, composite and amalgam) were prepared in methacrylate molds with surface polishing. A treatment regimen was carried out including diurnal incubation in pooled human saliva and including twice daily toothbrushing with standard fluoridated dentifrice. Test samples were treated daily with Crest Night Effects bleaching gel, which included drying of surfaces, painting of percarbonate bleaching gel, and then incubation throughout the day (8 hours) to simulate overnight wear. Treatments were carried out over 14 days, to simulate clinical exposure periods. Control and test specimens were evaluated for surface and subsurface structure and morphological integrity utilizing surface microhardness, surface profilometry, and confocal laser scanning microscopy.

Percarbonate bleaching film treatments had no effects on enamel or root dentin surface microhardness, or on subsurface ultrastructural integrity of enamel and coronal dentin. Surface profilometry confirmed retention of small amounts of residual silicone polymers, which contributed to CLSM air objective appearance and surface roughness measures. Restoratives were generally passive to bleaching gel treatments, though composite showed a tendency to attract retained residual silicone film.