Enhanced tooth bleaching with a hydrogen peroxide/titanium dioxide gel.

Background: This study aimed to explore the effects of the titanium dioxide (TiO) concentration and particle size in hydrogen peroxide (HP) on tooth bleaching effectiveness and enamel surface properties.

Methods: TiO at different concentrations and particle sizes was incorporated into 40% HP gel to form an HP/TiO gel. The specimens were randomly divided into 8 groups: C1P20: HP + 1% TiO (20 nm); C3P20: HP + 3% TiO (20 nm); C5P20: HP + 5% TiO (20 nm); C1P100: HP + 1% TiO (100 nm); C3P100: HP + 3% TiO (100 nm); C5P100: HP + 5% TiO (100 nm); C0: HP with LED; and C0-woL: HP without LED. Bleaching was conducted over 2 sessions, each lasting 40 min with a 7-day interval. The color differences (ΔE), whiteness index for dentistry (WI), surface microhardness, roughness, microstructure, and composition were assessed.

Results: The concentration and particle size of TiO significantly affected ΔE and ΔWI values, with the C1P100 group showing the greatest ΔE values and C1P100, C3P100, and C5P100 groups showing the greatest ΔWI values (p < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in surface microhardness, roughness, microstructure or composition (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: Incorporating 1% TiO with a particle size of 100 nm into HP constitutes an effective bleaching strategy to achieve desirable outcomes.