RESUMO
Changes in the chemistry and structure of enamel due to a non-peroxide-based home bleaching product (Rapid White) were studied in vitro using attenuated total reflectance-infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, electron probe microanalysis, flame atomic absorption spectroscopy, and total reflection X-ray fluorescence. The results revealed that the citric-acid-containing gel-like component of the bleaching system substantially impacts on the dental hard tissue. Enamel is affected on several levels: (i) the organic component is removed from superficial and deeper enamel layers and remnants of the bleaching gel are embedded in the emptied voids; (ii) cracks and chemical inhomogeneities with respect to Ca and P occur on the surface; and (iii) within a submicron layer of enamel, the Ca-O bond strength in apatite decreases, thus enhancing calcium leakage from the bleached enamel hard tissue.