Action of bleaching agents containing hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide on human dental enamel

Abstract

The increasing demand of modern society for aesthetic dental procedures has found reply in dentistry that has been providing options for dental bleaching, using gels that may be auto-applicable  or exclusively manipulated by professionals, either photo-activated by led or laser/led or not, or even incorporated to dentifrices formulas. Apparently less aggressive to mineralized structures, the available bleaching agents contain: hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide and sodium perborate, the last one indicated for endogenous bleaching procedures in pulped teeth. In the concentration of 10%, auto-applicable, the carbamide peroxide is considered  the gold standard substance by FDA. The sprouting of injuries in the morphology of the enamel, especially the hipersensitivity, has justified, also, the fluoride-therapy and the application of infra-red laser, amongst other procedures. It is not consensual among researchers if the severity of the injuries on the surface of  dental enamel, detected by electronic microscopic scanning and caused by the action of these products, has clinical relevance. This paper aims to discuss the effect on human dental enamel resultant of the application of the hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide, bleaching materials that constitute dentifrices and gels.