title: The effect of whitening agents on caries susceptibility of human enamel.
abstract: This in vitro study evaluated whether the treatment of human enamel with whitening agents containing different concentrations of carbamide or hydrogen peroxide changes the susceptibility of enamel to caries. Twenty-four sound human incisors were selected for this study. For each tooth, the crown was sectioned into two halves in the cervical-incisal direction. One half of the sectioned tooth was treated and the other half was used as a control specimen. Each half was randomly divided into three treatment groups (eight two-halves/group). The whitening agents were 10% carbamide peroxide, 20% carbamide peroxide with fluoride and 35% hydrogen peroxide. Following pretreatment, the specimens were demineralized for four days in an in vitro microbial caries model and then analyzed using a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). Results showed that there were no significant differences between the treated and controlled specimens for teeth treated with 10% carbamide peroxide or 35% hydrogen peroxide. However, specimens treated with 20% carbamide peroxide with FP (0.11% fluoride and potassium nitrate) were less susceptible to caries than their controls at p < or = 0.05. In conclusion, application of bleaching agents does not increase the caries susceptibility of human enamel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, King Saud University, College of Dentistry, Saudi Arabia. tqunnaian@msn.com
authors.forename: Talal A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Al-Qunaian
mesh_terms: D000077463:Carbamide Peroxide; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D003733:Dental Caries Susceptibility / Q000187:drug effects*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000187:drug effects*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009566:Nitrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D016877:Oxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010545:Peroxides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D017680:Potassium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000502:physiology; D014073:Tooth Bleaching / Q000379:methods*; D017001:Tooth Demineralization / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014508:Urea / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009566:Nitrates; D016877:Oxidants; D010545:Peroxides; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D000077463:Carbamide Peroxide; D014508:Urea; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D005459:Fluorides; C023844:potassium nitrate