Synthesis, characterization, and performance of calcium fluoride cyclotriphosphate in whitening formulations: aesthetic effect, mechanical properties, and morphology of dental enamel

• Grant number: 24/18477-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Pediatric Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Alberto Carlos Botazzo Delbem
• Grantee: Renata de Oliveira Alves
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araçatuba. Araçatuba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate in vitro a new whitening agent containing cyclotriphosphate, fluoride, and calcium (CaFTMP) and hydrogen peroxide (HP) at 17.5% and 35% on color change, mechanical, and morphological properties of enamel. The cyclotriphosphate containing fluoride and calcium will be synthesized using a chromatography column and the addition of a supernatant solution containing calcium fluoride, and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX).Initially, a pilot study will be conducted to determine the ideal concentration of CaFTMP to be incorporated into the gel. Different concentrations, ranging from 0.25% to 3%, will be tested, with the aim of identifying the one that presents the most effective effect. The whitening gels will be: 1) Negative control (no treatment, NC); 2) 35% hydrogen peroxide (35% HP); 3) 17.5% hydrogen peroxide (17.5% HP); 4) 35% HP + 1% CaFTMP; 5) and 5) 17.5% HP + 1% CaFTMP. The gels will be applied once per session, totaling three sessions of 40 minutes, conducted every 7 days. During the intervals between sessions, the specimens will be stored in artificial saliva, which will be renewed daily. After the treatment, color change will be evaluated by reflection spectrophotometry, quantifying the parameters of total color change (¿Eab), whitening index (¿WID), and total color difference (¿E00). Final surface hardness (SHF) will be measured to calculate the percentage of surface hardness loss (%SH). Surface roughness (Ra) will also be evaluated, as well as enamel mineral content using computed microtomography (gHAp × cm¿3), in addition to enamel topography and chemical composition (SEM and EDX). Variables with normal and homogeneous distribution will be subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Otherwise, they will be analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Multiple comparison tests will be performed using the Student-Newman-Keuls method (p<0.05).