In vitro assessment of the effect of opalustre bleaching system on dental enamel

Abstract

The study was performed to investigate the changes induced by mechanical-chemical action of a bleaching product on dental enamel and to assess the effect of some remineralization products containing calcium, phosphate, and fluoride applied in conjunction with the bleaching product by surface roughness analysis using profilometry. Forty tooth samples were randomly divided in three study groups and a control group. In control group (group IV) the samples were maintained in artificial saliva. The study groups were as follows: group I-samples submitted to bleaching procedure using Opalustre (3 times a day, 1minute each), group IIsamples submitted to remineralization and then to whitening, group III-samples submitted to remineralization, whitening and then remineralization. The surface roughness was determined in relation to a reference surface using Portable Surface Roughness Measuring Tester SJ-210 (Mitutoyo, America Corporation, USA). The bleaching system Opalustre increased the roughness of enamel and the product that contains calcium, phosphate and fluoride applied before and after bleaching improved the roughness parameters.