Dental bleaching, also known as tooth whitening, is a common procedure in general dentistry. According to the FDA, whitening restores natural tooth color and bleaching whitens beyond the natural color. There are many methods available, such as brushing, bleaching strips, bleaching pen, bleaching gel, and laser bleaching. Dental bleaching  has become the most requested procedure in cosmetic dentistry today.

 

As a person ages the adult teeth often become darker due to changes in the mineral structure of the tooth. Teeth can become stained by bacterial pigments, food-goods, colored liquids like coffee, tea,  red wine, tobacco and certain antibacterial medications (like tetracycline).

 

According to the American Dental Association, different whitening methods include in-office bleaching, which is applied by a professional dentist; at-home bleaching, which is used at home by the patient.  Bleaching methods use carbamide peroxide which reacts with water to form hydrogen peroxide. The peroxide oxidizing agent penetrates the porosities of the enamel structure and breaks down stain deposits in the dentin. Power bleaching uses light to accelerate the process of bleaching in a dental office.

 

The ADA recommends to have one's teeth checked by a dentist before undergoing any whitening method. The dentist should examine the patient thoroughly: take a health and dental history (including allergies and sensitivities), observe hard and soft tissues, placement and conditions of restorations, and sometimes x-rays to determine the nature and depth of possible irregularities.

 

The side effects that occur most often are a temporary increase in tooth sensitivity and temporary mild irritation of the soft tissues of the mouth, particularly the gums.