In vitro assessment of activated charcoal-based dental products

Abstract

Objective: Assess the effects of activated charcoal-based products on whitening and changes on dental enamel surface.

Material and methods: Fifty-two blocks of bovine dental enamel were randomly distributed in four groups (n = 13): brushing with activated charcoal-based powder (PW); brushing with activated charcoal-based dentifrice (AC); brushing with a conventional dentifrice containing 1450 ppm of fluoride (CD); and whitening with 10% carbamide peroxide (CP). Color, microhardness, and surface alteration were analyzed at baseline and after 14 days of treatment. Three samples per group were randomly selected and examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to analyze the morphology.

Results: PW exhibited greater color change for the ΔE₀₀ , ΔWID, Δb* and ΔL* parameters than other groups (p < 0.05). After treatment, microhardness decreased in AC and CP groups (p < 0.05). Also, PW and AC groups showed more surface alteration than CD and CP (p < 0.001). Changes in the morphology of dental enamel were observed by SEM in PW and AC groups.

Conclusion: Activated charcoal-based products showed a lower whitening effect than 10% carbamide peroxide. These products also influenced dental enamel microhardness, resulting in greater surface alteration.

Clinical significance: Activated charcoal-based products promoted minimum whitening effects with significant enamel surface alteration. The 10% carbamide peroxide was more effective for whitening and caused slight enamel surface alteration.

Keywords: activated; charcoal; dental whitening; dentifrice; toothbrushing.