Microstructural effect of a laser-activated bleaching agent containing titanium dioxide on human enamel

Area of Science:

• Dental materials science
• Biomaterials engineering
• Nanotechnology in dentistry

Background:

• In-office dental bleaching is a common cosmetic procedure.
• Hydrogen peroxide (HP) based agents are widely used for dental bleaching.
• Assessing the impact of novel bleaching agents on dental enamel is crucial for clinical safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of a laser-activated bleaching agent containing titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles on enamel microhardness and roughness.
• To compare the microstructural effects of HP with TiO2 nanoparticles activated by a diode laser against HP alone.

Main Methods:

• Twenty human premolars were divided into two groups: 35% HP and 30% HP with TiO2 nanoparticles.
• The TiO2-containing agent was activated by a 980 nm diode laser.
• Enamel microhardness and roughness were measured before bleaching, immediately after the second session, and 7 days post-bleaching.

Main Results:

• The bleaching agent containing TiO2 nanoparticles did not induce changes in enamel roughness or hardness.
• The effects on enamel microhardness and roughness were comparable to those of standard HP bleaching.

Conclusions:

• Both hydrogen peroxide (HP) and HP with laser-activated TiO2 nanoparticles are viable for in-office dental bleaching.
• Neither bleaching agent caused significant microstructural changes to the enamel.
• The addition of TiO2 nanoparticles to HP, when activated by a diode laser, does not negatively impact enamel integrity.