[Development of low-concentration hydrogen peroxide whitening agent using visible light-responsive titania photocatalyst].

Abstract

Although highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide (HP) has been used to bleach vital discolored teeth during office whitening, low-concentration HP was recognized to have insufficient whitening ability. We demonstrated that using a visible light-responsive titania photocatalyst (VLRTP) and a vis-Nd : YAG laser, 3 wt% HP-bleached oxytetracycline (OTC)-stained teeth models were more efficient than 30 wt% HP. The stained samples were prepared by soaking synthetic hydroxyapatite ceramic disks in OTC aqueous solutions. Color images of the OTC-stained models before and after whitening were taken with a conventional flatbed scanner and calibrated using a photocell colorimeter. By VLRTP treatment with vis-Nd : YAG laser irradiation, the lightness value (L*) significantly increased and the yellowness index (b*) significantly approached zero. This suggests that a diluted HP agent with VLRTP can more efficiently decolorize stained teeth by visible light irradiation.