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

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.