Preparation of a hydroxyapatite and hydrogen peroxide composite for tooth whitening

Abstract

Hydroxyapatite (HA)/Hydrogen Peroxide (H₂O₂) solutions was prepared for a tooth whitening application. HA powder was immersed in the 100, 1000 and 10 000 ppm of the H₂O₂ solutions. The HA/H₂O₂, HA and H₂O₂ solutions were applied to HA discs and extracted teeth for weight and whiteness change evaluation. After 24 hours, each HA disc was measured for the weight changes and each tooth was measured for the whitening changes (L^*) using a Spectro Color Meter. The topology of the teeth surfaces were also observed using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The weight of the HA disc applied with H₂O₂ at all concentrations was lower than that applied with HA and HA/H₂O₂ solutions. The whiteness of the teeth treated with HA/H₂O₂ were higher than that treated with HA and H₂O₂ only solutions. The whiteness change of the teeth treated with the HA/H₂O₂ (10 000 ppm) showed the highest value in all solutions at L^*=4.98±0.90 (p<0.05). In the SEM observation, the teeth surface treated with the H₂O₂ showed rough and destructive holes on the enamel surface. However, the teeth surface treated with the HA/H₂O₂ show smooth enamel surface due to covering of the destructive holes with HA powder.