ORAL HEALTH POLICIES: USE OF DENTAL BLEACHING

Policy on the Use of Dental Bleaching for Child

and Adolescent Patients
Latest Revision How to Cite: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Policy on
2019 the use of dental bleaching for child and adolescent patients.
The Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry. Chicago, Ill.: American
Academy of Pediatric Dentistry; 2020:112-5.

Purpose may vary significantly during the mixed dentition. Full arch
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recognizes that cosmetic bleaching during this developmental stage, however,
the desire for dental whitening by pediatric and adolescent would result in mismatched dental appearance once the child
patients has increased. This policy is intended to help pro- is in the permanent dentition. Adolescents present with
fessionals and patients make informed decisions about the unique dental needs, and the impact of tooth discoloration on
indications, efficacy, and safety of internal and external bleach- an adolescent’s self-image could be considered an indication
ing of primary and young permanent teeth and incorporate for bleaching.8 Tooth whitening has been successful in adoles-
such care into a comprehensive treatment plan. cent patients using typical bleaching agents, 8 but research is
lacking on the effects of bleaching on the primary dentition.
Methods Dental whitening may be accomplished by using either
This policy was developed by the Council on Clinical Affairs professional or at-home bleaching modalities. Advantages of
and adopted in 2004. This document is an update from the in-office whitening or whitening products dispensed and
last revision in 2014. This revision included a new literature monitored by a dental professional include:
®
search of the PubMed /MEDLINE database using the terms:
dental bleaching, dental whitening, and tooth bleaching;
• an initial professional examination to help identify causes
of discoloration and clinical concerns with treatment
fields: all; limits: within the last 10 years, humans, English, (e.g., existing restorations, side effects).
clinical trials, and birth through age 18. Over 350 articles • professional control and soft-tissue protection.
were selected and reviewed. Additional information was ob- • patient compliance.
tained from reviewing references within selected articles. • rapid results.
• immediate attention to teeth sensitivity and other adverse
Background effects.
The desire for improved dental esthetics has fueled innovations
in dental materials. Patients, parents, and the news media The pretreatment professional assessment helps identify
request information on dental whitening for children and pulpal pathology that may be associated with a single discol-
adolescents with increasing frequency. In addition, increased ored tooth. This examination also identifies restorations that
demand for bleaching materials and services has affected are faulty or could be affected by the bleaching process and
both the variety and availability of dental bleaching products the associated costs for replacing such restorations to maximize
on the market. esthetic results.8-12 By using photographs and/or a shade guide,
Discoloration of teeth is classified by etiology. 1 Clinical the dentist can document the effectiveness of treatment. In
indications for internal or external dental whitening for addition to providing in-office bleaching procedures, a dentist
individual teeth may include discoloration resulting from a may fabricate custom trays for at-home use of a bleaching
traumatic injury (i.e., calcific metamorphosis, darkening with product. Custom trays ensure intimate fit and fewer adverse
devitalization), irregularities in enamel coloration of a perma- gingival effects.13 Over-the-counter products for at-home use
nent tooth due to trauma or infection of the related primary include bleaching gels, whitening strips, brush-on agents,
tooth, or intrinsic discoloration/staining (e.g., fluorosis, tetra- toothpaste, mints, chewing gum, and mouth rinse. Their main
cycline staining). 2-7 Teeth staining from metals (e.g., iron advantages include patient convenience and lower associated
supplements) or consumption of tea, coffee, soft drinks, costs.
alcohol, and certain foods is extrinsic and easier to treat Peroxide-containing whiteners or bleaching agents improve
compared to intrinsic factors whether congenital or acquired. the appearance by changing the tooth’s intrinsic color. The
Severe discolorations may be best treated with microabrasion professional-use products usually range from 10 percent car-
and subsequent bleaching to achieve desirable results.8 bamide peroxide (equivalent to about three percent hydrogen
Due to the difference in the thickness of enamel of primary peroxide) to 38 percent carbamide peroxide (equivalent to
and permanent teeth, tooth coloration within a dental arch approximately 13 percent hydrogen peroxide). In-office

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 ORAL HEALTH POLICIES: USE OF DENTAL BLEACHING

bleaching products require isolation with a rubber dam or a Of growing concern is the preponderance of non-dental
protective gel to shield the gingival soft tissues. Home-use professionals offering teeth whitening services to the public.49
bleaching products contain lower concentrations of hydrogen Tooth whitening is defined as any process to whiten, lighten,
peroxide or carbamide peroxide.2-4,14 Efficacy and long-term or bleach teeth.49 Teeth-whitening kiosks and beauty salons
outcomes of home whitening products will vary according to and retail stores are providing whitening services and dis-
the concentration of peroxide used and the severity of the pensing teeth whitening agents.19,50 Dental organizations have
initial tooth discoloration.15-18 Many whitening toothpastes con- supported state regulations that restrict the practice of pro-
tain polishing or chemical agents to improve tooth appearance viding bleaching services to only dentists or other qualified
by removing extrinsic stains through gentle polishing, chem- dental staff under the direct supervision of a dentist.49-51 The
ically chelating, or other nonbleaching action.10,19 Carbamide use of over-the-counter whitening products remains exempt
peroxide is the most commonly used active ingredient in from such regulation. Legislation defining the scope of practice
dentist-dispensed tooth-bleaching products for home-use.10,20 by non-dentists offering whitening treatment varies from state
Side effects from bleaching vital and nonvital teeth have to state and should be examined when these services are
been documented. It should be noted that most of the research being provided.50-52
on bleaching has been performed on adult patients, with only
a small amount of published bleaching research using child or Policy statement
adolescent patients.2,4,8,14,17,21-24 The more common side effects Teeth whitening procedures that have been shown to be safe
associated with bleaching vital teeth are tooth sensitivity and may be beneficial for children and adolescents. Although the
tissue irritation. Tooth sensitivity associated with vital bleach- use of whitening agents can improve dental esthetics and en-
ing may be due to permeation of enamel and dentin by hydro- hance a person’s self-esteem, proper treatment planning with
gen peroxide and a subsequent mild, transient inflammatory objectives should be conducted prior to engaging in any
response.25-27 Hydrogen peroxide is a highly reactive substance bleaching protocol. Use of whitening agents should follow
which can cause damage to oral hard and soft tissues when the safety and efficacy standards as defined by clinical research
used at high concentrations and an extended period of time.28,29 and best practice. Bleaching by young patients should be
Between eight and 66 percent of patients experience post- supervised by an adult and under the guidance of a dentist.
bleaching sensitivity, most often during the early stages of The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry encourages:
treatment.7,10,14,17,21,24 Overtreatment has been shown to harm • the judicious use of bleaching for vital and nonvital
tooth structure, which is of particular concern when bleaching teeth.
products are used excessively by overzealous teens and young • patients to consult their dentists to determine appro-
adults.29-31 Tissue irritation, in most cases, results from an ill- priate methods for and the timing of dental whitening
fitting tray rather than the bleaching agents and resolves once within the context of an individualized, comprehensive,
a more accurately fitted tray is used.32 Both sensitivity and tissue and sequenced treatment plan.
irritation usually are temporary and cease with the discontinu- • dental professionals and consumers to consider side effects
ance of treatment.6,7,14,17,19,21,24,33,34 Additional risks may include when contemplating dental bleaching for child and
erosion, mineral degradation, pulpal damage, and increased adolescent patients.
marginal leakage of existing restorations.14,35 When used • further research of dental whitening agents in children.
correctly, however, teeth bleaching has been proven to be safe
and causes no irreversible tooth structure damage.29 The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry discourages
Internal bleaching for non-vital endodontically treated teeth full-arch cosmetic bleaching for patients in the mixed denti-
in young patients can be performed in the same way as for tion and primary dentition.
adults.29 The more common side effect from internal bleaching
of nonvital teeth is external root resorption.36-39 With external References
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