Abstract

Fifteen human embedded third molars were used in this in vitro study to evaluate the effects of two bleaching products associated or not with Argon laser application. The samples received a cervical-apical cut and were longitudinally cut into 4 parts resulting in 75 specimens. These parts were divided at random into 5 groups and submitted to the traditional power bleaching procedure for enamel. Group 1 was separated as a control group. Group 2 was exposed to 37 % carbamide peroxide bleaching solution and developed with an Argon laser application. The same solution was used in Group 3 but the bleaching was developed with an halogen lamp irradiation. 35 % carbamide peroxide were used in Groups 4 and 5. One was developed as Group 2 and the other as Group 3. The samples were analyzed under a photoreflectance experiment. We observed that Group 2 presented more white spectra than Group 3. However, Groups 4 and 5 showed the same results independent of the use of the laser or the halogen lamp for the light curing. Comparing both bleaching products, the 35 % carbamide peroxide was more efficient on its purposes than the other one.

© 2001 OSA/SPIE