Effect of Vital Bleaching on Micromorphology of Enamel Surface: an in Vitro Study

The aims of this in vitro study was to investigate the effects of bleaching agents commonly used in micromorphology of the enamel surface and to assess the effect of concentration and of adding fluoride in the bleaching agents.

Sixty freshly extracted intact teeth were stored in distilled water. One half of each tooth was served as control, the other part was treated with bleaching agent. Samples were randomly divided into six groups of ten, according to the bleaching agents: G1- at-home-CP10; G2- at-home-CP16; G3- at-home-CP22; G4- in-office-CP35; G5- in-office-HP40 with fluoride; G6- in-office-HP40 without fluoride. Enamel specimens for each group were then submitted to a quantitative scanning electron microscopy. Number of pores and their diameter were measured to assess porosity of enamel surface.

SEM analysis revealed enamel surface porosity after bleaching. Significant increase in number and major diameter of pores in bleached samples (p<0.001) were observed. The comparison between samples treated with 10% PC and samples treated with 22% PC showed significant increase in number of pores (p=0.006) and major diameter (p=0.001) from samples treated with 22% PC. Statistical analyses showed significant increase in the number of pores (p=0.006) from samples treated with 40% HP without fluoride compared to samples treated with 40% HP containing fluoride.

Bleaching products with low concentration cause less porosity at surface of the enamel compared to concentrated products. Adding fluoride in the bleaching agent appears to reduce porosity of enamel surface.