Color of restorative materials after staining and bleaching.

This study determined the effect of a 10% carbamide peroxide bleaching agent on the removal of stain from restorative materials. Color changes (delta E*) of three restorative materials [compomer (Dyract); composite (TPH Spectrum); hybrid ionomer (Fuji II LC)] when exposed to juice/tea, chlorhexidine (CH), and water (control) for 120 hours were studied. Stained specimens were treated for two 2-hour periods with a bleaching agent (Platinum Tooth Whitening System) with and without the active ingredient. Color was measured at baseline, after staining, and after treatment using the CIE L*a*b* color system relative to CIE standard illuminant A (incandescent light) as measured by a reflection spectrophotometer. Means and standard deviations (n = 5) were calculated and data were analyzed by four-way ANOVA. All variables and interactions were statistically significant. Color changes caused by CH and water were not perceptible (delta E* < 3.3). After two 2-hour treatments, the following occurred with specimens stained with cranberry juice/tea: paste with and without active ingredient perceptibly changed color of stained composite. The stained hybrid ionomer perceptibly changed color after treatment with paste containing active ingredient but did not change after exposure to paste without active ingredient. The stained compomer was not perceptibly different with either treatment. Platinum successfully removed stains from the composite and hybrid ionomer tested.