A novel method of tooth whitening using cold plasma microjet driven by direct current in atmospheric-pressure air

Jie Pan, Peng Sun, Ye Tian, Haixia Zhou, Haiyan Wu, Na Bai, Fuxiang Liu, Weidong Zhu, Jue Zhang, Kurt H. Becker, Jing Fang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We reported in this paper the tooth-whitening effect by a direct-current cold atmospheric-pressure air plasma microjet (PMJ) and saline solution (0.9%). All teeth were randomly divided into three groups, treated for 20 min with an air blow and saline solution, a PMJ and saline solution, and 35% hydrogen peroxide gel, respectively. Compared with the other groups, the teeth treated with the PMJ and saline solution showed the best tooth-whitening effect. The microhardness of the tooth enamel measurement showed no apparent differences among the three groups. A minor enamel surface morphological change was observed via SEM but was considered acceptable. Singlet oxygen 1O2 and hydroxyl (H) radicals were detected by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Atomic oxygen (O) was observed in the optical emission spectra of the PMJ. 1O2, (H) and O were considered to be the key agents during the tooth-whitening process. This novel method of tooth whitening has the potential to revolutionize the clinical tooth-whitening procedure.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number5587901
Pages (from-to)3143-3151
Number of pages9
JournalIEEE Transactions on Plasma Science
Volume38
Issue number11 PART 2
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2010

Keywords

  • Electron spin resonance (ESR)
  • optical emission spectra
  • plasma microjet (PMJ)
  • tooth whitening

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Nuclear and High Energy Physics
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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