Can the hydrogel form of sodium ascorbate be used to reverse compromised bond strength after bleaching?

To assess the effect of the hydrogel form of different concentrations (2.5%, 5%, and 10%) of sodium ascorbate on the shear bond strength of composite after bleaching of the enamel with 10% carbamide peroxide gel.

Sixty flat buccal enamel surfaces obtained from 30 bovine incisors were divided into 6 treatment groups: group I, control (nonbleached); group II, no antioxidant treatment after bleaching; group III, 10% sodium ascorbate solution after bleaching; group IV, 2.5% sodium ascorbate hydrogel after bleaching; group V, 5% sodium ascorbate hydrogel after bleaching; group VI, 10% sodium ascorbate hydrogel after bleaching. The specimens were bonded with Clearfil SE Bond, then thermocycled and subjected to the shear test until failure. Fracture analysis of the bonded enamel surfaces was examined using a stereomicroscope. Statistical analysis was carried out using Kruskal-Wallis and the Mann-Whitney U-test.

While the samples that were not treated with antioxidant after bleaching (group I) demonstrated significantly lower shear bond strengths and the 10% sodium ascorbate gel group (group VI) demonstrated significantly higher bond strengths than the control group (p < 0.05), no significant differences were found between the other groups and control group (p > 0.05). Among the antioxidant groups, only the groups treated with the 10% solution and the 10% hydrogel form of sodium ascorbate (group III and VI) revealed significantly higher bond strengths than the bleached group without antioxidant (group II) (p < 0.05). Higher scores were obtained with 10% sodium ascorbate gel (group VI) when compared with the other antioxidant-treated groups (p < 0.05).

Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that the 10% hydrogel form of sodium ascorbate may be used in clinical procedures instead of its solution form. However, using sodium ascorbate hydrogel with concentrations lower than 10% may not be as reliable as using this agent in 10% concentration for reversing the compromised bond strength.