In vitro evaluation of the effect of bleaching dentifrices containing blue covarine on bovine dental enamel

Abstract Introduction Blue covarine is a bleaching agent that produces optical changes on the surface of the teeth, associated with the abrasives of the dentifrice leading to tooth whitening. Objective To determine the changes in colour, roughness and mass of the bovine enamel, after simulated brushing with dentifrices - containing blue covariate bleaching - for 6, 12 and 24 months. Material and method 80 specimens were divided into 8 groups (n = 10): Control group (CG-water) and 7 test groups (TG1-Colgate Total 12, TG2-Oral-B 3D White Perfection, TG3 -Colgate Luminous Instant White, TG4-Close Up White Diamond Attraction, TG5-Close Up White Now-Glacier Fresh, TG6-Sorriso Xtreme White, TG7-Colgate Luminous White Advanced). The specimens were stained with coffee and subjected to simulated brushing for 6, 12 and 24 months. The colour, roughness and mass evaluations were performed after each brushing period. Result No dentifrice test produced significant alterations in the roughness and mass of the specimens, however, when compared to CG, all of themproduced significant whitening. The comparison of the test groups did not show a significant difference in the colour variation between TG1, TG2, TG3, TG5, TG6 and TG7 in the study. The TG4 presented a variable behavior according to time, not statistically differing from TG3 at 6, 12 and 24 months, neither from TG6 at 6 and 12 months nor from TG7 at 12 months. Conclusion The whitening effect of dentifrices containing blue covarine, after long periods of brushing, seems to be related mainly to association with mechanical bleaching agents, which, despite abrasives, did not damage the dental structure.