ABSTRACT
Whitening strips have become a very popular over-the-counter choice for whitening teeth. Patients generally feel comfortable using strips and confident in their success. Since the introduction of these whitening strips, there have been numerous clinical studies on their efficacy and safety demonstrating significant whitening of teeth and minimal side effects. Strips are easy to obtain over the counter or from a dental professional and are easy to use at home. The primary disadvantage to whitening strips is that they may not be ideal for use in patients with severely misaligned or crowded teeth. Clinical research demonstrates that whitening strips may be indicated for the most common case types, including intrinsic discoloration associated with chromogenic foods, smoking, and aging, and complex case types such as tetracycline staining. Whitening strips were originally introduced in the United States by the Procter and Gamble Company in 2000 under the brand name Crest Whitestrips.
