In vitro peroxide penetration into the pulp chamber from newer bleaching products

AIM: To investigate peroxide penetration from newer bleaching products into the pulp chamber. METHODOLOGY: Fifty extracted human maxillary central incisor teeth were separated into five groups (n = 10). All the teeth were sectioned 3 mm apical to the cemento-enamel junction; the intracoronal pulp tissue was removed, and the pulp chamber filled with acetate buffer. Buccal crown surfaces of teeth in the experimental groups were subjected to either a whitening strip (containing 5.3% hydrogen peroxide-G1) or one of three paint-on liquid whiteners (containing 19% sodium percarbonate peroxide-G2, 18% carbamide peroxide-G3 and 8.7% hydrogen peroxide-G4). The teeth in the control group (G5) were exposed only to distilled water. The acetate buffer solution in each tooth was then transferred to a glass test tube after 30 min and leuco-crystal violet and enzyme horseradish peroxidase were added, producing a blue solution. The optical density of the resultant blue colour in the tubes was measured by a UV-visible spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 596 nm. The values were converted into microgram equivalents of HP using a spectrophotometric calibration curve. Data were analysed statistically using the Kruskal-Wallis Analysis of Variance and the Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found between all of the groups (P < 0.05). Pulpal peroxide was not observed in the control group. The amount of hydrogen peroxide (microg) found in the pulp chamber of G1 (0.726 +/- 0.024) > G4 (0.443 +/- 0.017) > G3 (0.231 +/- 0.011) > G2 (0.175 +/- 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: The peroxides from the whitening strip and paint-on whiteners penetrated into the pulp chamber to varying degrees.