Cytotoxic Effects of Zoom ® Whitening Product in Human Fibroblasts

• Published in: Materials Vol. 13; no. 7; p. 1491
• Main Authors: Marto, Carlos Miguel, Laranjo, Mafalda, Paula, Anabela, Coelho, Ana Sofia, Abrantes, Ana Margarida, Casalta-Lopes, João, Gonçalves, Ana Cristina, Sarmento-Ribeiro, Ana Bela, Ferreira, Manuel Marques, Cabrita, António, Botelho, Maria Filomena, Carrilho, Eunice
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 25.03.2020; MDPI
• Subjects: Apoptosis; Cell death; Cytotoxicity; Dental pulp; Fibroblasts; Flow cytometry; Glutathione; Hydrogen peroxide; Metabolism; Oxidative stress; Peroxides; Radiation damage; Reagents; Recovery; Side effects; Software; Teeth; tooth whitening; United States > US; fibroblasts; tooth whitening; cytotoxicity; oxidative stress; hydrogen peroxide
• ISSN: 1996-1944; 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma13071491

Tooth whitening procedures are increasing; however, side effects can occur, such as damage to pulp cells, by the whitening products. This study aims to assess the cellular effects promoted by a whitening product, namely, the oxidative stress fostered by the active agent hydrogen peroxide, with and without photoactivation. Additionally, if cellular recovery occurred, we intended to determine the time point where cells recover from the tooth whitening induced damage. Human fibroblasts were exposed to hydrogen peroxide, Zoom , Zoom + irradiation, and irradiation alone. The following analysis was performed: metabolic activity evaluation by the MTT assay; cell viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, peroxides production, superoxide radical production, and reduced glutathione expression by flow cytometry. We determined the IC value for all groups, and a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect was verified. At the times analyzed, hydrogen peroxide groups showed no metabolic activity recovery while a cell recovery was observed after 24 h (Zoom ) and 48 h (Zoom + irradiation). Cell death was seen in hydrogen peroxide and Zoom + irradiation groups, mainly by apoptosis, and the irradiation had a cytotoxic effect per se. This in vitro study supports that whitening products with moderate hydrogen peroxide (HP) concentration have a temporary effect on cells, allowing a cellular recovery.