The effect of whitening toothpastes on the color stability and surface roughness of stained resin composite

Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate the effect of whitening toothpastes on the color stability and surface roughness of resin composites stained with coffee and cigarette smoke. Methods Seventy-two disk-shaped specimens (6 × 2 mm) of suprananohybrid resin composite were randomly divided into two groups and exposed to coffee and cigarette smoke ( n = 36). After staining, the samples randomly divided into four groups according to whitening toothpastes and were brushed for 4 min: Opalescence Whitening (OW); Colgate Optic White (COW); Curaprox Black is White (CPX) and, distilled water (control) ( n = 9). Color was measured with spectrophotometer at the initial, after staining, and after brushing, and surface roughness was measured with profilometer at the initial and after brushing. A surface morphology analysis was examined using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The obtained data were statistically analyzed. ( p < 0.05). Results Cigarette smoke caused a significantly higher color change than coffee in the resin composite ( p < 0.05). Brushing with hydrogen peroxide and silica-containing whitening toothpaste showed significant differences in color change ( p < 0.05). The lowest whitening effect was found in activated charcoal-containing toothpaste. While all toothpastes increased the degree of surface roughness of resin composites, the highest roughness was caused by whitening toothpastes containing activated charcoal. ( p < 0.05). Conclusions The color stability and surface properties of resin composites can be affected by brushing them with whitening toothpaste. The utilization of whitening toothpaste containing hydrogen peroxide can be considered a safe method for increasing the whiteness of discolored resin composites.