Effect of cementum defects on radicular penetration of 30% H2O2 during intracoronal bleaching.

Bleaching pulpless teeth with 30% hydrogen peroxide has been reported to cause external cervical root resorption. It has been hypothesized that H2O2 penetrating through open dentin tubules can initiate an inflammatory reaction which could result in root resorption. Extracted human premolars were treated endodontically and bleached intracoronally using the thermocatalytic technique. The teeth were divided into three groups; one group with no cementum defects at the cementoenamel junction, one group with artificial cementum defects at the cementoenamel junction, and another group with artificial cementum defects at the middle third of the root. The radicular penetration of 30% hydrogen peroxide in the three groups was assessed directly and compared using an in vitro model. Radicular penetration of hydrogen peroxide was found in all of the groups tested. The penetration of hydrogen peroxide was significantly higher in teeth with cementum defects at the cementoenamel junction than in those without defects.