Method: Twenty-four disk-shaped specimens (12mm in diameter X 2 mm thick) were made and polished with decreasing abrasiveness sand-papers. Initial readings were taken on color (Spectrophotometer PCB 6807) and surface roughness (Rugosimeter Surfcorder SE 1700 - Kosakalab). The samples were separated in 3 groups (n=8) according to the submitted treatments: Group 1: AAA; Group 2: mechanical brushing with dentifrice RDA* 68 (Colgate); and Group 3: mechanical brushing with dentifrice RDA* 180 (Colgate Total Plus Whitening). New readings on color and surface roughness were taken after 480 hours of AAA and in intervals of 41 minutes of brushing (=14.600 cycles) until 205 minutes. The samples initially submitted to AAA (n=4) were brushed with dentifrice RDA* 68 and 180, according to previously described methodology and new readings on color and roughness were taken.
Result: After analysis, (2- way ANOVA repeated measures, Bonferroni, p<0.05) it was observed a higher color alteration when submitted to AAA with difference (p<0.05) when compared with brushing. There was no difference (p>0.05) on color stability when the dentifrices abrasiveness were compared, but it was significant for surface roughness (p<0.05), higher when brushed with RDA* 180. There was no difference regarding time brushing (p>0.05) for studied properties and the same was observed for samples brushed after AAA.
Conclusion: AAA interferes on color stability and the simulated brushing on surface roughness degradation of composites regardless the time of used dentifrice, but higher for more abrasive dentifrices. Moreover, abrasiveness and time of used dentifrice do not alter the capacity of staining removal and the surface roughness of composites.