Oxygen inhibits polymerization of resin-based materials. We hypothesized that compromised bonding to bleached enamel can be reversed with sodium ascorbate, an anti-oxidant. Sandblasted human enamel specimens were treated with distilled water (control) and 10% carbamide peroxide gel with or without further treatment with 10% sodium ascorbate. They were bonded with Single Bond (3M-ESPE) or Prime&Bond NT (Dentsply DeTrey) and restored with a composite. Specimens were prepared for microtensile bond testing and transmission electron microscopy after immersion in ammoniacal silver nitrate for nanoleakage evaluation. Bond strengths of both adhesives were reduced after bleaching but were reversed following sodium ascorbate treatment (P < 0.001). Resin-enamel interfaces in bleached enamel exhibited more extensive nanoleakage in the form of isolated silver grains and bubble-like silver deposits. Reduction of resin-enamel bond strength in bleached etched enamel is likely to be caused by a delayed release of oxygen that affects the polymerization of resin components.