Statement of problem: Bleaching agents may affect the color of existing composite restorations.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of 10% carbamide peroxide and 10% hydrogen peroxide on the color of light-polymerized hybrid, macrofilled, and polyacid-modified composites.
Material and methods: Two light-polymerized hybrid composites (3M Valux and Spectrum TPH), 1 macrofilled condensable composite (Solitaire), and 2 polyacid-modified composites (Dyract AP and Compoglass) were used. The hybrid composites served as controls. The color of 8 specimens of each material was analyzed by use of a spectrophotometer before bleaching. The specimens were then divided randomly into 2 subgroups (n=4). One group was immersed in 10% carbamide peroxide solution and the other in 10% hydrogen peroxide, for 8 hours each for 14 consecutive days. After bleaching, color changes (Delta E) were determined for each material and compared by use of the Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by the Mann-Whitney U test (P<.05).
Results: After bleaching with carbamide peroxide, the color changes (Delta E) for Dyract AP (2.18; SD = 1.41), Compoglass (1.14; SD = 0.26) and Solitaire (1.56; SD = 0.89) were higher than the color changes recorded for 3M Valux (0.63; SD = 3.60), and Spectrum TPH (0.66; SD = 1.24). The differences between materials bleached with carbamide peroxide were not statistically significant. After bleaching with hydrogen peroxide, the color changes for Dyract AP (9.39; SD = 0.53) and Compoglass (5.15; SD = 0.52) were higher than the changes recorded for Spectrum TPH (4.53; SD = 1.53) and 3M Valux (3.41; SD = 4.40), whereas the color change of Solitaire (3.69; SD = 0.57) was significantly higher than that of 3M Valux (P=.01). The color changes for all restorative materials tested were clinically detectable after the application of 10% hydrogen peroxide. However, clinically noticeable discoloration was observed only for Dyract AP treated with 10% carbamide peroxide.
Conclusion: In comparison to 10% carbamide peroxide, 10% hydrogen peroxide caused more color changes in the composites tested.