Tooth whitening dates back surprisingly far in history. Pearly white teeth have long symbolised beauty and wealth. Ancient Roman dentists believed in using urine with goat milk to make their teeth look whiter. In the late 1920s, mouthwash containing pyrozone (ether peroxide) was found to reduce cavities while providing a whiter appearance to teeth. By the 1940s and 1950s, ether and hydrogen peroxide gels were used to whiten vital teeth, whereas non-vital teeth were whitened using pyrozone and sodium perborate. In the late 1960s, Dr William Klusmeier, an orthodontist from Fort Smith, Arkansas, introduced the first custom tray bleaching. However, it was not until 1989 that Haywood and Heymann published an article in support of this method.
Tooth whitening, once seen as a luxury has now become the norm amongst many treatments offered in general practice. Social media, celebrity influence and the COVID-19 'zoom boom' have all contributed to patients' desire for a whiter, brighter smile. Whitening can offer fairly dramatic results without the need for extensive and/or invasive treatment or cost. It is important that dental practices offering tooth whitening follow the current guidance and legislation. This article looks at the questions we commonly get asked from our members regarding tooth whitening and the practical aspects for dental teams.
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