Titanium dioxide in dental enamel as a trace element and its variation with bleaching

Area of Science:

• Dental materials science
• Biomaterials research
• Spectroscopic analysis

Background:

• Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a trace element in dental enamel with implications for enamel color and crystal structure.
• Limited research exists on the interaction between dental bleaching agents and titanium dioxide concentration in enamel.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of various tooth bleaching agents on titanium dioxide concentration within dental enamel.
• To utilize confocal Raman spectroscopy for precise analysis of titanium dioxide levels before and during whitening procedures.

Main Methods:

• Human teeth were divided into six groups and subjected to different bleaching protocols.
• Confocal Raman spectroscopy was employed to identify and quantify titanium dioxide in enamel.
• Statistical analysis involved repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni pairwise comparisons.

Main Results:

• In-office whitening products significantly increased titanium dioxide concentration in enamel (p≤0.05).
• Longer bleaching protocols, such as at-home bleaching gels, negatively affected titanium dioxide concentration, leading to a loss.
• All tested dental specimens showed the presence of titanium dioxide as a trace element.

Conclusions:

• Tooth bleaching protocols differentially affect titanium dioxide concentration in dental enamel.
• Short-term, high-concentration in-office bleaching increases titanium dioxide, whereas long-term, low-concentration at-home bleaching decreases it.
• The findings highlight the importance of considering trace element alterations during dental whitening procedures.