Objectives: This study evaluated the adhesion and whitening effects of a combination of P11-4 self-assembling peptide and hydroxyapatite (peptide-HAP) on bovine enamel.
Methods: Forty-six caries-free bovine teeth were selected, and 40 teeth were randomly allocated to one of five groups (n = 8). First, the effects of application frequency, exposure time, and storage in saliva on the whitening effects of an experimental low-concentrated peptide-HAP suspension (0.5 wt% HAP; Curodont, Credentis) were evaluated and compared with a commercial bleaching agent (VivaStyle Paint on Plus, VS, Ivoclar Vivadent). Tooth color was measured using a spectrophotometer (Gretag MacBeth), and color changes ΔE were statistically analyzed. Second, the effects of peptide-HAP concentration (low versus high: 6.25% HAP; Curodont Protect), and its interactions with saliva and postapplication restaining, were investigated. Third, enamel surfaces (n = 2) were treated with low concentration peptide-HAP and high-concentration peptide-HAP in polymeric and monomeric forms (Curodont Protect & Curodont Repair, Credentis) and analyzed by SEM.
Results: The ΔE of the low-concentration peptide-HAP suspension did not differ from that of VS. Application frequency, exposure time, and storage in saliva did not have any significant impact on whitening efficacy of the peptide-HAP suspension. Increasing the concentration of the suspension did not promote overall ΔE. SEM observations confirmed the presence of the newly generated peptide and HAP on the enamel surface.
Conclusions: The peptide-HAP suspension is a mild tooth whitener, and the adhesion of peptide-HAP to enamel is concentration dependent.
Clinical relevance: This peptide-HAP suspension is effective in offsetting discoloration caused by restaining after treatment.
Keywords: Bovine enamel; Color measurement; Hydroxyapatite (HAP); SEM; Self-assembling peptide P11-4; Whitening effects.