Dentist-prescribed home bleaching: current status

White teeth have been an indicator of physical attractiveness throughout history. Only recently have we been able to whiten teeth with few side effects, making tooth bleaching a popular and effective dental treatment. The American Dental Association (ADA) has established guidelines on safety and effectiveness for tooth bleaching. External stains from aging or inherent dark color are more responsive to bleaching than internal stains. Dentist-prescribed home bleaching--including a careful dental exam, custom-fabricated trays, tacky high-viscosity gels, adequate instructions, and recall exams--has been shown to be an effective method for bleaching teeth. Trays can be worn overnight or during the day with similar effectiveness. The bleaching effect can last up to 3 years with more than 50% success.