Abstract
The interest of patients in vital tooth bleaching has created a demand for aesthetic dental treatment.However, very few studies have determined the effect of vital bleaching upon dental hard tissues and the surrounding tissues.The purpose of this in vitro study was to determine the effects of 10% carbamide peroxide solution, which was the reagent for patient-applied home bleaching, on enamel and root surfaces using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS).Mesial halves or distal halves of extracted teeth were bleached for 7 consecutive days by 10% carbamide peroxide solution in custom-fabricated trays.Other samples were subjected to the same protocol in acidulated (pH 5.0) hydrochloric solutions.The untreated and treated sample halves were examined for differences in surface texture and were compared to enamel etched with 37% phosphoric acid.Significant differences in enamel surface texture were detected between the control and treated enamel surfaces in all groups.
Furthermore, the removal of the deposition originated in periodontal membrane was detected in bleached root surfaces.These findings were also verified with EDS spectrum.
