Effects of bleaching agents on dental restorative materials: A review of the literature and recommendation to dental practitioners and researchers

In recent years, there has been an increased demand for improvement in the appearance of natural teeth. The conservative technique of tooth bleaching has gained attention and acceptance from both patients and clinicians. Despite increased popularity, there is controversy surrounding the adverse effects of bleaching on dental restorative materials. This article reviews the effects of bleaching agents on major categories of dental restorative materials and provides evidence-based recommendations to the clinicians and researchers. Current literature reveal that bleaching might have a detrimental effect on restorative materials. However, because of the variability in experimental design, there is a lack of consensus concerning the bleaching effects on restorative materials. A standardized and reproducible guideline for assessment of bleaching effects on restorative materials needs to be established and verified by future studies.