SUMMARYThis in vitro study assessed the fracture resistance of endodontically-treated teeth undergoing combination bleaching with 38% and 9.5% hydrogen peroxide gels as in-office and at-home bleaching techniques, respectively. In addition, the effect of an antioxidizing agent, sodium ascorbate, was investigated.Methods and Materials: Sixty maxillary premolars were endodontically-treated, received a glass ionomer barrier as a mechanical seal and were embedded in acrylic resin up to the cemento-enamel junction. The specimens were divided into four groups (n=15) as follows: G I: no bleaching, access cavity restored with resin composite (negative control); G II: bleached for three weeks daily using 9.5% hydrogen peroxide for two hours and three sessions of in-office bleaching using 38% hydrogen peroxide every seven days, then restored (positive control); G III: bleached similar to G II and restored after one week; G IV: bleached similar to G II, along with the use of an antioxidizing agent for 24 hours, then restored. In each in-office and athome bleaching session, the whitening gels were applied to the buccal surface of the tooth and placed inside the pulp chamber (inside/outside bleaching technique). Finally, the specimens underwent fracture resistance testing; the data were analyzed using ANOVA and Scheffé's test (α α=0.05). M Khoroushi • A Feiz • R Khodamoradi Clinical RelevanceThe fracture resistance of endodontically-treated teeth decreases after combination bleaching. The use of sodium ascorbate as an antioxidizing agent reverses decreased fracture resistance. In addition, it decreases the treatment period and the risk of catastrophic crown fractures.