RESUMEN
Objectives: the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a home bleaching agent on the color stability and the surface texture of Duceram feldspathic porcelain, Duceram LFC and IPS Empress 2
Materials and Methods: Fifteen ceramic specimens were constructed. Five for each of Duceram feldspathic porcelain, hydrothermal Duceram LFC and IPS Empress 2. All specimens were subjected to spectrophotometric analysis of color parameters, image analysis of surface roughness and scanning electron microscopic evaluation before and after exposure to bleaching agent Zoom
Results: The three tested ceramic materials showed significant increased in the color change as well as the surface roughness after each bleaching step. Duceram LFC exhibited the highest color change and surface roughness throughout the test. An acceptable color change [A E<2] was observed with Duceram after first bleaching step and also with IPS Empress 2 after first and second bleaching step. Results also demonstrated that IPS Empress 2 specimens recorded the lowest Ra values throughout the test. Scanning electron microscopic evaluation revealed that the bleached specimens showed various degree of surface roughness and irregularities as a result of degradation of glass phase in the different ceramic materials. Further researches are required to confirm these re-suits clinically