Tooth whitening procedures: A narrative review

To provide a comprehensive review of the available literature on the subject of tooth whitening and to provide a snapshot of where we as a dental profession are regarding this topic today. To provide a detailed account of the different tooth whitening procedures, their specific indications, success rates and potential side effects. Data was obtained using the following keywords: tooth whitening, tooth bleaching, color, adverse effects, pediatric dentistry, enamel hardness, restorative materials, whitening pH, whitening concentration, success rates. A comprehensive literature search was conducted on PubMed and Scopus databases. A separate search was made on a Google Search Engine. The references from the reviewed material were used to locate other relevant publications. A total of 158 articles were included in this review after reviewing the literature that resulted from the initial search. Tooth whitening procedures have proven to be a conservative and viable option for improving dental esthetics. With the increasing need for esthetic treatment among dental patients, it is important for dentists to have a good understanding of tooth whitening procedures, their specific indications, potential adverse effects, and limitations. These procedures are a minimally invasive way to improve dental esthetics significantly.