Effects of Fluoridated and Non- Fluoridated Bleaching Agents on Bovine Surface Enamel

Abstract

In the modern era, aesthetic dentistry is becoming famous. The demand of tooth bleaching is increasing day by day and it has become the treatment of choice for tooth discoloration. If there is deposition of chromatogenic material into dentin and enamel during the tooth development stage or after eruption, it leads to intrinsic tooth discoloration [1]. Among various bleaching techniques for intrinsic tooth discoloration, vital and non-vital bleaching techniques are common one. They use oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide to remove intrinsic stains. They are widely used agents as they have safe to use. These properties have made them popular. Further modifications in these agents have opened multiple options for dentists in managing tooth discoloration [2]. Carbamide peroxide (CP) is a perhydrol-urea and hydrogen peroxide carbamide compound which degrades to urea and hydrogen peroxide. This agent with ‘‘night guard’’ bleaching technique, have proved effective and efficient in providing good results. However, altered surface morphology, decreased microhardness and loss of dental hard tissue volume are among few side effects of bleaching as shown by various authors. 10% CP has been proved to decrease the enamel microhardness as compared to higher level [3]. However, a study performed by Potocnik et al. [4] found that 10% CP causes local microstructural changes and there is no affect on enamel microhardness. 10% CP is a safest bleaching agent as demineralization is not clinical evident, moreover, it is soon followed by remineralization. Fluoridated bleaching agents are considered to reduce the adverse effects of tooth whitening. Topical fluoride is used to increase the hardness and acid resistance of demineralized teeth. It may be used in tooth sensitivity peripherally by occluding the dentinal tubules and reducing dentinal fluid flow. Hence, fluoride application may be used for treating post-bleaching sensitivity [5]. The present study was conducted to assess the effects of bleaching agents with and without fluoride as well as the post-bleaching fluoridation on bovine surface enamel.