Bleaching with 10% carbamide peroxide does not increase the susceptibility of enamel to erosive and abrasive wear, according to a new study (Journal of the American Dental Association, May 2010, Vol. 141:5, pp. 546-551).
Bleaching and erosive processes have been reported to soften dental surfaces, so researchers from Indiana University investigated whether these procedures can increase enamel and dentin susceptibility to toothbrush abrasion.
The study authors prepared specimens of human enamel and root dentin. They then randomly submitted the specimens to cycles of erosion, toothbrushing, and 10% carbamide peroxide bleaching for five days. They determined the change in surface loss by means of profilometry.
Among the study findings:
- Dental erosion and the more abrasive dentifrice increased toothbrushing wear on enamel surfaces, while bleaching showed no harmful effect.
- Dentin wear also increased after subjection to erosion and use of the more abrasive dentifrice.
- Bleaching increased surface loss on noneroded dentin and decreased loss on eroded dentin when it was brushed with the less abrasive dentifrice.
"Bleaching did not increase the susceptibility of enamel to erosive and abrasive wear, regardless of the dentifrice used," the authors concluded. "Dentin wear was modulated by the interaction of bleaching, erosion and dentifrice."
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