Resumo

CARDOSO, ROBERTA MARQUES et al. Dental enamel roughness and bleaching treatment. RPG, Rev. pós-grad. [online]. 2012, vol.19, n.2, pp. 39-45. ISSN 0104-5695.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the surface roughness of dental enamel before and after using two different bleaching techniques by measuring surface roughness. Buccal surfaces from 20 third molars were sectioned into two parts, which were placed on acrylic resin and stored in distilled water. The samples were analyzed under a light microscope to define 15 homogeneous samples, which were randomly divided into three experimental groups, each with five of them: Group 1 - immersion in distilled water, Group 2 - 35% hydrogen peroxide bleaching gel, and Group 3 - 35% hydrogen peroxide bleaching gel with LED (light emitting diodes) activation. The roughness measurements were carried out and paired t tests were used for comparison between groups. There was no statistically significant difference in groups 1 and 2, being p > 0.05. However, under the experimental conditions of this paper, light-activated bleaching technique resulted in a statistically significant change in the enamel average roughness, with p < 0.05. Treatment using 35% hydrogen peroxide bleaching and light activation caused a significant increase in human enamel roughness.

Palavras-chave : Tooth bleaching; Hydrogen peroxide; Dental enamel.