Effect of Vital Tooth Bleaching on Surface Roughness and Streptococcal Biofilm Formation on Direct Tooth-Colored Restorative Materials.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effect of simulated bleaching with a 10% carbamide peroxide (CP) or a 40% hydrogen peroxide (HP) system on surface roughness of resin composite and resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGI) and streptococcal biofilm formation on these surfaces.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Specimens of nanofilled resin composite and RMGI (n=108 each) were randomly divided into three groups (n=36 each): no treatment control, 10% CP, and 40% HP. The surface roughness values (Ra) were measured before and after treatments. The specimens in each group were randomly divided into three subgroups (n=12) and incubated with Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguinis, and trypticase soy broth control for 24 hours. Biofilm formation was quantified by crystal violet staining, and the structure was visualized by scanning electron microscopy. The differences between the mean changes in Ra between the 10% CP and 40% HP groups of each material were evaluated with an independent t-test. The quantity of biofilm formation on each material was analyzed with one-way analysis of variance with the post hoc Tukey test ( α=0.05).

RESULTS

Surface roughness significantly increased after bleaching in all groups. There was no significant difference between the 10% CP and 40% HP groups of each material. For S. mutans biofilm formation, bleaching with 10% CP and 40% HP increased biofilm on both materials compared to controls. However, S. sanguinis biofilm formation was significantly higher on bleached resin composite but not on RMGI specimens.

CONCLUSIONS

Simulated bleaching with 10% CP or 40% HP increased both surface roughness and biofilm formation on resin composite and RMGI, except for S. sanguinis biofilm on RMGI.