In-office bleaching for the remineralization of enamel lesions filled with organic components of red wine.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of in-office bleaching on the remineralization of enamel lesions filled with organic components of red wine.

METHODS: Enamel specimens were exposed to 0.1% NaF solution for 1 minute immersed in red wine for 5 days at 37°C, and subjected to in-office bleaching followed by remineralization in 1.5 mM CaCl₂, 0.9 mM KH₂PO₄, 130 mM KCl, 20 mM HEPES, pH 7.0, at 37°C for 28 days. The presence of organic substances on the enamel surface was detected by Raman spectroscopy. The specimens were also subjected to transverse microradiography (TMR).

RESULTS: Raman spectroscopy of baseline lesions showed characteristic peaks at 1,300-1,600 cm-1 which disappeared in bleached specimens. TMR showed that red wine formed subsurface lesions with surface content at approximately 22 mineral volume %. The integrated mineral loss (IML) was significantly lower in unbleached remineralized specimens than at baseline (P< 0.05). The IML of bleached remineralized specimens was lower than that of unbleached specimens, although not significantly (P> 0.05). Lesion depth was significantly lower in the bleached than in the unbleached group (P< 0.05).

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In-office bleaching can enhance the remineralization of enamel lesions filled with organic components of red wine.