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Introduction to Tooth Whitening: Past and Present

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Tooth Whitening

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Abstract

Few dental treatments have been more successful and conservative in nature than tooth whitening. Therefore, it is noteworthy to reflect on the efforts of pioneers in our dental profession that continuously attempted to search for the most effective and safest whitening agent. This quest has extended to determine the best whitening technique to meet our patients’ desires and expectations about the esthetic outcome. Here, a short history of tooth whitening agents developed and employed based on the type of discoloration is summarized, as is our current knowledge on the relative efficacy and safety of various types of tooth whitening regimens available. The information on proper diagnosis and treatment planning will guide the clinician in establishing a step-by-step protocol for determining the etiology of the discoloration, selecting the best whitening technique, and monitoring tooth color until the desired outcome has been achieved.

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Acknowledgment

Special thanks go to Taylor & Francis for granting permission to use and update Table 1.2.1 in Bleaching Techniques in Restorative Dentistry Edn 1 by Linda Greenwall.

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  1. Division of General Dentistry, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, Loma Linda, CA, USA

    So Ran Kwon

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  1. So Ran Kwon
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Correspondence to So Ran Kwon .

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  1. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Jorge Perdigão

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Kwon, S.R. (2023). Introduction to Tooth Whitening: Past and Present. In: Perdigão, J. (eds) Tooth Whitening. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-38244-4_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-38244-4_1

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