Influence of blenching agents on the mechanical properties and colour of dental restorative nanocomposite

Purpose: Bleaching agents are commonly used to make the natural dentition look more attractive. Currently, in addition to products from reputable manufacturers, products of not fully known origin are available for purchase. The aim of the study was to investigate whether products of this type have a destructive influence on the mechanical and aesthetic properties of the dental restorative nanocomposite. Design/methodology/approach: Four bleaching agents were used, two recognized brands, and two products were purchased from Chinese websites (their manufacturer is unknown). Two gels and two types of whitening strips were used. One composite nanomaterial was used. Microhardness, diametral tensile strength,, compressive strength and colour measurements were tested. Findings: For some bleaching agents, studies have shown a relatively small effect on mechanical properties and an acceptable effect on colour changes. Regardless of the observed changes, the use of bleaching agents qualified for the experiment should be considered safe for composites. Research limitations/implications: The number of blenching agents used as well as dental composites in this study was limited. In future studies, increasing the number of cycles in the bleaching process should be considered. Practical implications: A popular method of improving the aesthetic properties of teeth is the use of a wide range of blenching agents. Most patients who use teeth whitening procedures are also users of composite fillings. The use of bleaching agents may have a different effect on the mechanical and aesthetic restorative composites. For economic reasons, many people decide to import cheap bleaching agents of unknown or dubious origin via Internet services to perform the bleaching process on their own. In this study, it was investigated whether products of this type have an influence on the mechanical and aesthetic properties of the dental restorative nanocomposite. Originality/value: Until now, no comparison of the safety of the use of bleaching agents of recognized manufacturers and of unknown origin in terms of the effect on composite materials has been presented, despite their high social importance.