Bleaching of natural dentition: what the new dentist should know

Vital tooth bleaching is a widespread and conservative treatment for the majority of superficial extrinsic or intrinsic stains, compared to composite resin and porcelain veneers, metal and all ceramic crowns. It refers to a process that changes the tooth color without the use of restorative materials. It is a technique of proven safety, as long as certain prerequisites are met by both dentist and patient. Nowadays, a worldwide increase in the desire for whiter teeth is recorded. As part of this increased demand, tooth bleaching is usually incorporated or at least proposed in almost every therapeutic plan, at least of the anterior dental region, under the scope of minimal invasive dental procedures. In vitro and in vivo studies propose different protocols for at-home and in-office bleaching, discussing different degrees of color change and affectivity of the current bleaching products. The aim of this paper is the collection of contemporary evidence-based data concerning tooth bleaching, focusing especially on materials and techniques. Furthermore suggestions on the interpretation of the relevant research data are given. Finally, contemporary evidence-based bleaching protocols based on current bibliography are described.