Can hydroxyapatite be used as a teeth whitener in addition to helping prevent or reverse demineralization?
Yes, according to a new study in the European Journal of Oral Sciences (August 2013, Vol. 121:4, pp. 382-388).
For this in vitro study, researchers from Ludwig Maximilians University evaluated the efficacy of teeth whitening using different calcium phosphate-based formulations. Teeth were treated with three different hydroxyapatite preparations at different concentrations and with two control preparations.
Each tooth was treated a total of three times. After each treatment, tooth color was measured using a dental spectrophotometer, and the mean changes in L*a*b* values between different measurements were expressed as ΔE.
The researchers found significant differences between the materials, although no dose- or time-dependent associations were found. The suspension containing tricalcium phosphate showed the most obvious color change, while the suspension containing zinc-carbonate-apatite showed the least obvious color change, the study authors noted.
"Calcium phosphate-based formulations that can adhere to the enamel surface and contribute to tooth whitening have promising tooth-whitening potential," they concluded.
