The current status of vital tooth whitening techniques.

Tooth whitening of vital teeth continues to have a major impact on the practice of dentistry. The growing public interest in having whiter, brighter teeth is clearly evident in the advertisements from toothpaste manufacturers on "whitening" formulations of their products and by the number of individuals seeking whitening procedures from their dentists. In addition, new over-the-counter whitening products continue to emerge in a marketplace that cannot seem to get teeth white enough, bright enough, fast enough. What new products and procedures have evolved over the past decade to whiten teeth? Are they better, safer, faster, and more effective now? Are dentists meeting public demand for whiter teeth and is this quest having a positive or negative impact on the practice of dentistry or the patient's dental health? I posed these questions to a group of experts on whitening procedures to get their opinions and recommendations.