Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the hardness, mineral content, surface roughness, and micromorphology of sound and slightly demineralized enamels, before and after bleaching procedure using 10% carbamide peroxide.
Methods: Sixty bovine dental blocks were randomly divided into the following two groups: 30 slabs were submitted to three cycles of pH and 30 slabs were noncycled. Hardness (n=10) was measured using the microhardness tester with Knoop indenter under a 50 g load for 5 seconds. The calcium/phosphate (Ca/P) ratio (n=10) was obtained using a micro-energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (μ-EDXRF) spectrometer. The measurement of roughness average (n=10) was performed using a surface roughness tester. Specimens were bleached 6 hours/day during 21 days, and then, physicochemical properties were re-evaluated. Two additional specimens were carried out to evaluate surface micromorphology using the scanning electron microscopy. Data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's test (α=0.05).
Results: Sound and slightly demineralized enamels showed no difference in Ca/P ratio after dental bleaching according to the μ-EDXRF analysis, but the Ca/P ratio decreased after bleaching for slightly demineralized enamel. Bleaching treatment decreased the hardness and increased the surface roughness, causing micromorphology alterations.
Conclusion: Therefore, bleaching procedure promoted change in bovine enamel surface and increased the demineralization of slightly demineralized enamel but not affected the mineral content of sound enamel.
Keywords: chemical properties; dental enamel; microhardness; pH cycling; roughness; tooth bleaching.