A comparetive study of the effects of home and office bleaching on enamel surface roughness

Introduction: Increase in enamel surface roughness after bleaching is one of its major side effects. The purpose of this study is to compare changes in enamel surface roughness following bleaching with home versus office bleaching agents. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, forty human sound premolar teeth were divided into 4 groups, randomly. Ten teeth were bleached using hydrogen peroxide 15% home bleaching, ten teeth with 15% peroxide carbamide home-bleaching and ten teeth with %40 hydrogen peroxide (office bleaching) according to the instructions. Ten teeth were also considered as control group and kept in artificial saliva. Enamel surface roughness of each specimen was determined before and after bleaching using Atomic Force Microscopy. Results: All three studied agents significantly increased surface roughness (P<0.01). The average increase in surface roughness in group hydrogen peroxide 40% was significantly greater than that of group hydrogen peroxide 15%, carbamide peroxide 15% and control (P<0.05) The average increase in surface roughness in group hydrogen peroxide 15% was also significantly higher than the control group (P<0.03) however, it showed no significant difference with carbamide peroxide 15% (P>0.05). Increase in average surface roughness between the carbamide peroxide 15% and control revealed no significant difference (P>0.05). Conclusion: Due to the lesser increase in surface roughness with carbamide peroxide 15%, it would be suggested as the choice agent for bleaching.