The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences
Abstract
The field of cosmetic dentistry emerged when people began to realize the importance of a good smile. Stains on teeth were no longer deemed acceptable with the advent of cheap and safe procedures like tooth bleaching. This new procedure replaced the older, more costly and invasive method of laminated veneers and crowns. The chemistry behind this bleaching occurs via unstable hydroxyl radicals and thus the question arose as to how safe this accepted procedure really is. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the negative ramifications of tooth bleaching and to determine if it’s truly safe. The null hypothesis is that the procedure is innocuous and the status quo of cosmetic dentistry is appropriate. Data for this report was obtained from EBSCOhost, Google scholar and PubMed. Tooth sensitivity, oral mucosal and gingival irritation are among the most common side effects observed. More serious side effects like weakening of bond strength, leakage of restorations, cervical root resorption, bleachorexia and degradation of enamel matrix are all observed and are concluded to be serious issues. Though they are reported in the literature, carcinogenicity, mutagenicity and depletion of oral microbes are all determined to not be of any true concern. With a plethora of reasons to avoid tooth whitening, it’s imperative that users be properly informed before commencing whitening. This will ensure that all possible measures to avoid these negative effects are indeed taken. Needless to say, the use of such toxic materials shouldn’t be available OTC (over-the-counter) as they currently are. If a new and cheaper system is developed on the heels of the successful Pearl Brilliant White Ionic Teeth Whitening System, then bleaching will finally be a safe and universal procedure.
Recommended Citation
Krasnow, Y. (2017). Is Tooth Bleaching Really Safe?. The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences, 10(2). Retrieved from https://touroscholar.touro.edu/sjlcas/vol10/iss2/10
