Effect of 30% hydrogen peroxide on mineral chemical composition and surface morphology of bovine enamel

[Abstract] A combination of atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), and gas adsorption techniques was used to characterize the effect of 30 % hydrogen peroxide (HP) on enamel surface. To perform the analyses of AAS, 1 ml of 30 % HP was added to 30 mg of a bovine enamel powder sample (150-200 μm fractions) for times of 5, 20, 60, 90, and 120 min; then 5 ml of the solution was withdrawn after each time period to measure [Ca2+] ions. The remaining powder was recovered and analyzed by FTIR. For SEM and gas adsorption tests, 4×4 mm2 enamel sectioned samples were polished and 30 % HP was applied on the surface for the same time periods. AAS data show that 30 % HP treatment mobilized calcium from the enamel at all times studied. FTIR spectra showed that the total amount of phosphate and carbonate mineral contents such as amide I decreased significantly. SEM revealed that randomly distributed areas throughout the smooth enamel surface treatment became rougher and more irregular. These alterations indicate that surface damage increases with increasing durations of HP treatment. Gas adsorption analysis proved that bleached enamel is a typically non-porous material with a small specific surface area which decreases slightly with the 30 % HP treatment. In sum, 30 % HP induced a significant alteration of the organic and mineral part of the enamel, leading to the release of calcium and a rougher, more irregular enamel surface on randomly distributed areas.