Evaluation of Mineral Loss from Enamel by 375% Hydrogen Peroxide in-office Bleaching Agent, with and without Additional Activation by Light Emitting Diode and Diode Laser – An Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric Study

ABSTRACT

Bleaching of vital teeth is a very common practice nowadays prompted by high esthetic demands of patients. But bleaching agents are known to cause some transient damage to enamel microstructure, so the need arises to determine the effect of bleaching agents on the mineral content of enamel. Aim: To evaluate mineral loss from enamel using in-office bleaching agent Hydrogen Peroxide and the effect of LED and Laser activated bleaching agent on mineral loss from enamel. Methods: Forty human premolar crowns were divided into buccal and lingual specimens and 80 blocks of 4x4x3mm each were obtained. Samples were randomly divided into four groups of twenty each depending upon the beaching treatment and activation method. Group I – Hydrogen Peroxide without additional activation, Group II – Hydrogen Peroxide with additional activation by Diode Laser, Group III – Hydrogen Peroxide with additional activation by LED Light and Group IV – Control group. Amount of calcium and Phosphate loss was calculated using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results: Results showed that bleaching with hydrogen peroxide leads to calcium and phosphate loss from enamel with additional activation resulting in higher amounts of mineral loss especially with Laser activation. Conclusion: Bleaching agents result in calcium and phosphate loss from enamel with significantly high loss of minerals due to additional activation by Laser and LED Light. Therefore bleaching procedures must be followed by remineralization treatments to prevent damage to enamel.