Overview and status of mouthguard bleaching

Since the bleaching of vital teeth using a tray delivery system with a 10 percent carbamide peroxide first became common knowledge in March, 1989, there has been much discussion, improvement, and questions concerning the process and the various products available. This article presents an overview of its history, the variations in techniques, and questions concerning safety, including the impact on tooth structure, the pulp, soft tissue of the mouth, and systemic ingestion. It divides currently available products according to their composition, into either a carbamide peroxide with and without carbopol, a hydrogen peroxide of varying concentrations, a hydrochloric acid, or other categories. It discusses the various delivery mechanisms and comments on their apparent effectiveness, as well as reflecting the current knowledge base of the profession.