Evaluation of the effect of post-bleaching use of different remineralization treatments on the optical properties of enamel

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of post-bleaching use of different remineralization treatments on the optical properties of enamel. Method: 100 bovine incisor tooth enamel samples were used in study. Office and at-home bleaching was applied to the samples divided into two groups. The samples were then divided into five subgroups. Agents containing acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF), casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium phosphate fluoride (CPP-ACPF), calcium glycerophosphate, fluoride (CaGP, F) and hydroxyapatite, fluoride (HAp, F) were applied to groups other than control. After remineralization, the samples were stained with wine. Color measurements were made with a spectrophotometer at baseline, after bleaching, after remineralization and after staining. Color evaluations were made with L*, a*, b*, CIEDE2000 color difference (ΔE00), whiteness index for dentistry (WID) and whiteness index change (ΔWID) values. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS V23 software. Kruskal Wallis test, Friedman test and Dunn test were used for statistical analysis. Result: After bleaching, L* values increased and a* and b* values decreased in all groups. Post-bleaching color change and whiteness index change values of the office and at-home bleaching applied groups were found to be statistically similar. The groups applied with remineralization agents were found to be statistically similar to the control in terms of the evaluated parameters. After staining, L* values decreased and a* and b* values increased in all groups. While there was no statistically significant difference between the control and APF groups in terms of color stability, a statistically significant difference was detected between the CPP-ACPF, CaGP, F and HAp, F groups and the control. Conclusion: Office and at-home bleaching showed similar color and whiteness changes. Application of remineralization agents containing fluoride, CPP-ACPF, CaGP, F and HAp, F after bleaching was found to be ineffective on color and whiteness change. Remineralization agents containing HAp, F, CPP-ACPF and CaGP, F, respectively, were found to be more successful in terms of color stability. Key words: bleaching, remineralization, color