Opalescence of bleached teeth.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the influence of tooth bleaching on the opalescence properties of enamel.


METHODS
Color of 38 specimens was determined by colorimetric analysis before and after bleaching in the reflectance and transmittance modes. The results were described as CIELab color coordinates. The Opalescent Parameter (OP) was calculated as the difference in yellow-blue color coordinate (CIE Δb*) and red-green color coordinate (CIE Δa*) between the reflected and transmitted colors.


RESULTS
Mean OP value of the specimens was 18.9 (±1.6) before bleaching and 16.1 (±1.0) after bleaching.


CONCLUSIONS
Bleaching decreases the OP of the specimens (p>0.001). OP decrease was correlated with differences in b* color coordinate in the transmittance mode.
Operative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil. maxschmeling@globo.com
Max
M
Schmeling
Hamilton Pires
HP
Maia
Luiz Narciso
LN
Baratieri
D000818:Animals; D000077463:Carbamide Peroxide; D002417:Cattle; D003124:Colorimetry; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D049449:Luminescence; D055620:Optical Phenomena; D010545:Peroxides / Q000494:pharmacology; D014073:Tooth Bleaching; D058205:Tooth Bleaching Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014508:Urea / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology
D010545:Peroxides; D058205:Tooth Bleaching Agents; D000077463:Carbamide Peroxide; D014508:Urea