The Food and Drug Administration and its influence on home bleaching

The era of bleaching vital teeth has captured the attention of the dental profession, the public, the media, and the government. This method, using a custom-fitted mouthguard and a carbamide peroxide solution, is known as home bleaching, matrix bleaching, nightguard vital bleaching, passive bleaching, and dentist-prescribed-home-applied bleaching. Recent action of the US Food and Drug Administration and continued research and clinical experience in the area have provided favorable and unfavorable information about the variations of the technique. This article discusses these variations, with the general conclusion that the technique of vital tooth bleaching, when administered by a dentist using a custom-fitted mouthguard, is as safe as many other routinely performed dental procedures.