Efeitos de protocolos excessivos associados a produtos clareadores caseiros sobre a microestrutura, a composição e as propriedades físicas do esmalte dentário humano

Abstract

The bleaching techniques are considered safe, simple and non-invasive and thus have gained popularity among professionals and patients. However, the free access of the gel to dental structures and the direct contact with the surface of the enamel, during the whole treatment raises doubts, about its possible impacts. Concerns were also raised about the emergence of so-called over-the-counter products and the possibility of self-application that could lead to excessive consumption and / or lack of guidance and monitoring. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of home bleaching products on the microstructure, roughness, composition, nanohardness and elastic modulus of human dental enamel in protocols of normal or excessive use. Samples were obtained from 10 third molars and divided into 4 groups: group I - storage in artificial saliva, group II - treatment with 10% carbamide peroxide, group III - treatment with 10% hydrogen peroxide, group IV - treatment with whitening strips (10% hydrogen peroxide). Each tooth provided four enamel fragments for treatment in each one of the groups. Daily applications were performed according to the manufacturers' recommendations, and a brushing simulation was used twice a day with an electric brush. All samples were stored in artificial saliva at the treatment intervals and were analyzed before the start of therapy, after 4 and 8 weeks of intervention. The choice by non-destructive techniques allowed each sample to be its own control. Qualitative analyzes of microstructure alteration were carried out using confocal laser scanning microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Roughness data (Sa and Sq) were also obtained for statistical analysis. Nanoindentation tests were used to determine changes in the nanohardness and elastic modulus. All of this information was correlated with composition changes by Raman micro-spectroscopy. Carbamide peroxide bleaching showed no significant changes in enamel samples, following the behavior pattern of those brushed and stored in artificial saliva, and therefore considered safe. However, the groups treated with hydrogen peroxide (III and IV) showed significant modifications in their properties after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment. The change in surface with more exposed appearance was associated with greater protein detection after the first month of treatment, especially for group III. After 8 weeks, the surface appeared smoother, with reduction of prismatic pattern and drop in organic content, suggesting a loss of disorganized mineral surface layers. Likewise, the increase in hardness and elastic modulus values for these samples seems to derive from the remineralizing effect of saliva and the positive role of the most exposed proteins in the mechanical properties, allowing greater slip of the crystals and accommodation with the loads. These changes may not reach clinically perceptible patterns but reinforce the importance of dentists supervision and monitoring, since in-vivo the patient may be exposed to other challenges that may worsen the impacts. It is concluded that the use of hydrogen peroxide gels in bleaching therapies should be under professional supervision and that in situ and in vivo tests are required to confirm the observed trends.