Effect of a 10% carbamide peroxide on wear resistance of enamel and dentine: In situ study

Objectives

This triple-blind, 2 × 2 crossover in situ study, was undertaken to verify whether the wear resistance of enamel and root dentine would be affected by bleaching with a 10% carbamide peroxide agent and a placebo agent.

Methods

Thirty slabs of each substrate (2 mm × 3 mm × 2 mm) were selected for each phase, after flattening and polishing procedures and microhardness test. After a 7-day lead-in period, one specimen of each substrate was randomly bonded on the facial surface of each one of 30 subject's upper second premolars. The volunteers received instructions on how to perform toothbrushing and application of gel in the tray. Fifteen volunteers bleached their maxillary arch with a 10% carbamide peroxide bleaching agent for a 2-week period, while the remainders used a placebo agent. After a 1-week washout period, a new set of enamel and root dentine slabs were bonded to the premolars and volunteers were crossed over to the alternate agent for 14 days. The resistance of enamel and root dentine to wear following bleaching, toothbrushing and intraoral exposure was measured with a profilometer, using reference areas.

Results

For enamel, ANOVA did not demonstrate significant difference between wear provided by placebo and bleaching agent (p = 0.3713), but higher wear depth was observed for bleached root dentine (p = 0.0346).

Conclusions

While overnight bleaching caused no alteration in wear resistance of enamel, root dentine showed increased tissue loss.