In vitro study on bleached enamel

The surface crystal chemistry of enamel treated with peroxide-based (the commercial product Opalescence Xtra Boost as well as aqueous solutions of H ₂O₂) and citric-acid-containing bleaching agents (the commercial product Rapid White as well as aqueous solutions of C ₆H₈O₇) were studied by Attenuated Total Reflectance Infrared Spectroscopy and electron-probe microanalysis. The results show that the treatment with H₂O₂-based reagents leads to no side effects on the enamel superficial layer, whereas C₆H ₈O₇)-based agents deteriorate the enamel mineral component. Hence, bleaching with citric-acid-containing products cannot be recommended.