Effect of Small Starfruit (Averrhoa bilimbi L.) Extract Gel on Tooth Enamel Color Changes

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the color change effect of the application of small starfruit extract gel on tooth enamel. Thirty specimens of bovine teeth were divided into 6 groups that would receive applications of gels with different concentrations of Aceh's small starfruit extracts (70%, 80%, 90%) and of Bogor's small starfruit extracts (70%, 80%, 90%). The application of the gel was performed 4 hours per day for 14 days. The measurement of the color changes was performed before application and after 7 and 14 days of application by using a VITA Easyshade®. The changes were calculated according to the CIEL∗a∗b∗ formula. Dependent t-tests showed that there were significant color changes after application of the gels containing 70% and 80% of small starfruit extracts for 7 and 14 days, but the gels caused discoloration instead of whitening of the enamel surface of bovine teeth.