Van B. Haywood, DMD, is a professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences at the Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University. A coauthor in 1989 on the first paper on nightguard vital bleaching, he has more than 145 publications on bleaching technique and esthetics, including first papers on treating bleaching sensitivity with potassium nitrate, direct thermoplastic tray fabrication, bleaching primary teeth, and caries control with bleaching materials. Many of these articles are available free on his website: vanhaywood.com.
Many of my patients ask for recommendations for at-home whitening modalities. How should I determine which is best based on individual patient characteristics?
I have several patients who have undergone in-office bleaching and would like some over-the-counter options to upkeep their new white smiles. What do you suggest?
One of my patients asked me about using activated charcoal to whiten teeth. While I had not heard of this before, upon a Google search, it seems to be a popular approach to at-home bleaching. How should I advise my patients on this trend?
I have a patient who is interested in tooth whitening—both in office and at-home. However, she has one porcelain laminate veneer on an anterior tooth. What should I recommend?
I often suggest to patients who experience mild sensitivity caused by at-home whitening treatment to reduce any excess solution in the tray by using a Q-tip to apply it directly to the teeth. For very sensitive patients, I also recommend…
Van B. Haywood, DMD, shares his expertise on the important role of the dental professional in tooth whitening treatment with Dimensions of Dental Hygiene.