Demineralization effects of 10 percent carbamide peroxide

• Published in: Journal of dentistry Vol. 24; no. 6; pp. 395 - 398
• Main Authors: McCracken, M.S., Haywood, V.B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.11.1996
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Bicuspid; Calcium - analysis; Carbamide Peroxide; Carbonated Beverages - adverse effects; Demineralization; Dental Enamel - chemistry; Dental Enamel - drug effects; Drug Combinations; Enamel; Hardness; Humans; Incisor; Molar; Peroxides - administration & dosage; Peroxides - adverse effects; Spectrophotometry, Atomic; Time Factors; Tooth Bleaching - adverse effects; Tooth Demineralization - chemically induced; Tooth Demineralization - metabolism; Urea - administration & dosage; Urea - adverse effects; Urea - analogs & derivatives; Carbamide Peroxide; Enamel; Demineralization
• ISSN: 0300-5712; 1879-176X
• DOI: 10.1016/0300-5712(95)00113-1

Objectives: The purpose of this in vitro study was to measure the amount of calcium lost from enamel exposed to a 10% carbamide peroxide solution. Methods: Nine teeth (3 incisors, 2 premolars, 4 molars) were sectioned to serve as paired test and control specimens. Each tooth half was coated with wax, leaving a uniform 3 mm × 4 mm window of exposed enamel. Test specimens were placed in culture tubes with 1.00 ml of deionized water and 0.02 ml of 10% carbamide peroxide for 6 h; controls were exposed to water alone. Calcium concentrations in the solutions were measured using a Perkin-Elmer 5100 atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: Teeth exposed to carbamide peroxide lost an average of 1.06 μg/mm 2 of calcium. This amount of loss was significantly greater than controls ( p < 0.001), according to ANOVA. For comparison, teeth were exposed to a cola beverage for 2.5 min, the time equivalent of drinking a 16 oz. beverage. The amount of calcium lost from these teeth was also about 1 μg/mm 2. Conclusions: Teeth exposed to 10% carbamide peroxide lost calcium. However, the amount of loss was small, and may not be clinically significant.