AIM: To evaluate the effects of three hydrogen peroxide (HP) concentrations on enamel mineral content (MC), following three peroxide applications and using three methods to measure the MC. METHODS : Forty samples were obtained from bovine incisors and randomly divided into 4 groups (n=10). The control group remained untreated, while the experimental groups were tested for three HP concentrations (10%, 35% and 50%). The HP gel was applied 3 times on the enamel surface for 30 min per application and the samples were analyzed after each application. The MC of the enamel was determined before and after bleaching using Fourier transform (FT-Raman) spectroscopy and micro energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (µEDXRF). The calcium (Ca) lost from the bleached enamel was quantified with an atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS). The data were analyzed statistically by ANOVA, Tukey and Dunnett´s tests (p<0.05). RESULTS: The FT-Raman showed a decrease in MC for all bleaching treatments, without influence of the different HP concentrations or the number of applications. µEDXRF did not detect any changes in MC. CONCLUSIONS: Ca loss was observed by the AAS, with no difference among the three HP concentrations. The FT-Raman and AAS analyses detected MC reduction and Ca loss after HP bleaching.

Este estudo avaliou as características estruturais e moleculares da lesão de cárie artificial em dentina produzidas por diferentes modelos artificiais (LCA) comparados à lesão de cárie natural (LCN). Cento e vinte e quatro blocos de dentina oclusal hígida e 47 blocos cariados foram obtidos e a dureza superficial foi analisada (SH1). Eles foram divididos em grupos de acordo com os modelos de LCA: GB: Biológico; GQ: Químico; GIS: In situ; GCN: lesão de cárie natural (controle). Blocos dos grupos 1, 2 e 3 foram submetidos à produção da lesão de cárie. Blocos de dente contendo LCA e LCN foram submetidos à análise de dureza superficial (SH2), análise FT-Raman e µEDXRF. Em seguida, todos os blocos foram seccionados longitudinalmente e uma das metades foi submetida à análise da dureza transversal (CSH) e outra à análise em microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). Dados da SH1 e SH2 foram submetidos ao teste t (não-pareado e pareado, respectivamente). Dados do CSH e MEV foram submetidos à ANOVA a um fator e teste Tukey e ANOVA a um fator e teste t, respectivamente (p<0,05). Dados do FT-raman/µEDXRF foram submetidos a ANOVA a um fator e teste de Dunnett para múltiplas comparações (p<0,05). GB e GCN apresentaram os menores valores de SH2 que foram significativamente diferentes de GC e GIS. Quanto a CSH, GB e GCN mostraram nenhuma diferença significativa entre eles. SEM mostrou profundidade de lesão de cárie semelhante para GB e GCN, sendo significativamente maior que para GC e GIS. µEDXRF mostrou valores similares de cálcio e fosfato para GB e GCN, enquanto os valores do GCN foram significativamente diferentes em relação ao GIS. Nenhuma diferença significativa foi encontrada entre os grupos em relação aos valores de fosfato, carbonato e ligações CH. Para o colágeno tipo I, os valores do GC foram significativamente diferentes em comparação aos outros grupos. Pode-se concluir que a cárie artificial produzida pelo GB foi o mais próximo da LCN.

This study evaluated structural and molecular issues of dentin caries-like lesions produced by different artificial models (ACL) compared with natural caries lesions (NCL). One hundred twenty-four sound occlusal dentin blocks and 47 carious blocks were obtained and surface hardness was analyzed (SH1). They were assigned to groups according to ACL: GB: Biological; GC: Chemical; GIS: In situ; GNC: natural caries (control). Blocks from groups 1, 2 and 3 were submitted to caries lesion induction. NCL and ACL blocks were submitted to surface hardness (SH 2), FT-Raman and µEDXRF analysis. All blocks were longitudinally sectioned and one of the halves was submitted to cross-sectional hardness (CSH) and the other to SEM analysis. SH1 and SH2 data were submitted to t test (unpaired and paired, respectively), CSH and SEM data to two-way and one-way ANOVA respectively, and Tukey and t tests, respectively (p<0.05). Data from FT-Raman/µEDXRF were submitted to one-way ANOVA and Dunnett multiple-comparisons test (a=0.05). GB and GNC showed lowest SH2 values that were significantly different from GC and GIS. Regarding CSH, GB and GNC showed no significant difference between them. SEM showed similar caries lesion depth for GB and GNC, being significantly higher than for GC and GIS. µEDXRF showed similar values of calcium and phosphate for GB and GNC; GNC values were significantly different from GIS. No significant difference was found among the groups concerning phosphate, carbonate and CH bonds values. For collagen type I, GC values were significantly different compared to other groups. It may be concluded that caries-like lesions produced by GB were the closest model to NCL.

The aim of this study was to observe the influence of two light polymerization units (LED or halogen light) on the degree of conversion (DC) of three dental composites with lighter shades and a different photoinitiator system. The top (T) and bottom (B) surfaces of 60 discs of composite resin (Filtek™ Supreme, Filtek™ Z250, Tetric™ Ceram Bleach) cured either by LED or by halogen lamp (HL) were studied using an FT-Raman spectrometer. The degree of conversion (DC) was evaluated by following the changes in the intensity of the methacrylate C=C stretching mode at 1640 cm-1. The calculated DC ranged from 54.2% (B) to 73.4% (T) and from 60.2% (B) to 76.6% (T) for the LED and HL, respectively. LED and halogen devices were able to produce an adequate DC for all the resins tested.