Evaluating the Efficacy of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles in Combination with Commonly Used Bleaching Agents: An In Vitro Study

According to Andres et al., higher H 2 O 2 concentrations seem to increase the diffusion and penetration of peroxides and the byproducts, leading to an intense inflammatory response with greater sensitivity. 6,7Enamel and dentin have shown high permeability to H 2 O 2 . 8These agents bleach the chromogens within IntroductIonTooth whitening, achieved through the application of chemical agents to oxidize or reduce the organic pigmentation of the tooth, is referred to as bleaching. 1The most commonly seen side effects are tooth sensitivity and gingival irritation, which are usually mild and transient. 2,3Dental hypersensitivity is one of the major side effects directly related to the composition of the bleaching agent, concentration of the bleaching agent, technique of application, and time of application.Effective bleaching treatments include hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and carbamide peroxide (CH 6 N 2 O 3 ), which easily penetrate tooth structure and interact with chromogens to break them down and brighten color. 4Despite the treatment's demonstrated efficiency and minimal adverse effects, questions have been raised concerning the use of high H 2 O 2 concentrations due to their potential to cause severe inflammation in the pulp tissue due to oxygen radicals. 5To swiftly assess the effectiveness of tooth whitening in vitro before undergoing rigorous clinical evaluation and processes for product approval to be launched, legitimate and trustworthy methodologies are now required.