The use of white pomegranate extract as a bleaching material for hardness, roughness, and calcium levels in the enamel tooth

Background: Bleaching is the procedure of re-whitening teeth that have darkened to a shade near to their natural hue. Due to the unfavorable impact of chemical bleaching materials on enamel demineralization, the quest for natural bleaching solutions that have the same whitening effect while minimizing the negative consequences is encouraged. The punica granatum fruit is one of the natural components that can be employed. Purpose: This study aims to analyze the application of white pomegranate extract as an external bleach on the physical properties of the enamel surface of the tooth. Methods: thirty post-extraction bovine teeth were divided into treatment and control groups, then enamel surface hardness was measured using a Micro Vickers Hardness Tester, enamel surface roughness using a Surface Roughness test, and calcium levels using an EDS SEM tool before application of white pomegranate extract which is performed for 2 hours a day for two weeks. After two weeks, the enamel surface hardness, enamel surface roughness, and calcium levels were measured again. Results: The results of the treatment group using white pomegranate extract showed that there was no decrease in enamel surface hardness (p>0.05), a decrease in enamel roughness (p<0.05), and no decrease in calcium levels (p>0.05). The control group's results using 16% carbamide peroxide showed a decrease in the hardness and surface roughness of the enamel, but it did not decrease the calcium content. Conclusion: white pomegranate extract can be used as an external bleaching agent because of not reduce the surface hardness, reduce the surface roughness and not reduced the calsium of the enamel tooth.