Effect of toothbrushing with conventional and whitening dentifrices on monolithic zirconia after finishing procedures

To evaluate the effect of toothbrushing with conventional and whitening dentifrices on the color difference (ΔE₀₀), gloss (Δgloss), and surface roughness (SR) of stained stabilized zirconia with 5 mol% of yttrium oxide (5Y-TZP) after polishing or glazing.

Specimens were divided into four groups (n=20): C (control), S (staining), SG (staining and glazing) and SP (staining and polishing). 50,000 toothbrushing cycles were performed with conventional (n=10) and whitening (n= 10) dentifrice slurries. The ΔE₀₀ and Δgloss were measured using a spectrophotometer and CIEDE2000 system while SR was measured by laser confocal microscope. The ΔE₀₀ and Δgloss data were analyzed using 2-way ANOVA, and SR data were analyzed using the linear repeated measures model, with Bonferroni's complementary test (α= 0.05).

The ΔE₀₀ values were beyond the acceptability threshold and no differences were found among the groups. There was no difference among groups to Δgloss after toothbrushing with conventional dentifrice while SP presented the highest values of Δgloss after toothbrushing with whitening dentifrice. Conventional dentifrice decreased the SR of stained groups and whitening dentifrice decreased SR of S and SG. The toothbrushing with conventional and whitening dentifrices promoted color difference, but did not impair gloss and surface roughness of stained 5Y-TZP.

Monolithic zirconia has been routinely used for esthetic restorations, however the type of finishing procedures that is carried out on it must be taken into consideration, in addition to the fact that brushing can influence the color difference of the material as well as interfere with surface roughness and gloss.