Greening of the tooth-amalgam interface during extended 10% carbamide peroxide bleaching of tetracycline-stained teeth: A case report

At-home bleaching with 10% carbamide peroxide in a custom-fitted tray has been shown to have some minor effects on certain brands of amalgam, pertaining to mercury release, but generally, effects on amalgam are not considered clinically significant. However, in this case report, a greening of the tooth structure in certain areas immediately adjacent to amalgam restorations in the maxillary and mandibular first molars occurred during tooth whitening. Other amalgam restorations in mandibular and maxillary second molars in the same mouth did not demonstrate any green discoloration of the teeth. Upon removal of the affected amalgam restorations, recurrent decay was present in the areas of tooth greening but not in other areas adjacent to the restoration. The teeth were restored with posterior composite restorations. Whether the green discoloration was a result of some loss of material from a particular brand of amalgam, indicating leakage, or indicative of original or recurrent tooth decay is unclear in this single-patient situation. Other patients in the same study did not demonstrate this occurrence. Dentists should be ready to replace amalgam restorations should this green discoloration in adjacent tooth structure occur during bleaching, in case decay is present.