perboric acid

Perboric acid is an inorganic compound that acts as a potent oxidizing agent, primarily utilized in clinical dentistry for the internal bleaching of non-vital teeth. Although it exists as an acid, it is most frequently administered in the form of its salt, sodium perborate, particularly in the "walking bleach" technique. Upon application, the compound decomposes to release hydrogen peroxide and nascent oxygen, which penetrate the dentinal tubules to oxidize and break down organic pigments responsible for tooth discoloration. Beyond its aesthetic applications, it has been used in antiseptic oral preparations to treat inflammatory conditions like gingivitis and stomatitis, leveraging its oxidative capacity to disrupt the cell walls of anaerobic oral pathogens.

Other names

hydrogen perboratemonoperboric acidsodium perborate