02.04.13
US Patent No. 8,277,783 B2; Millen-nium Dental International, Brookfield, CT, has patented a method of whitening a tooth. It entails applying to the tooth an oxidizing agent comprising between about 0.005 to about 3.0% by weight of a compound of the formula R1 (MnO4)n, or mixtures thereof, wherein R1 is H, an alkali-metal, or an alkaline earth metal, and n is 1 when R1 is H or an alkali-metal and 2 when R1 is an alkaline earth metal; and a reducing agent comprising between about 1-3% by weight of a peroxygen compound, or mixtures thereof, wherein the peroxygen compound is hydrogen peroxide, urea peroxide, an alkali-metal peroxide or an alkaline earth metal peroxide. The oxidizing agent and the reducing agent are simultaneously applied to the tooth. The oxidizing agent reacts with the reducing agent on the tooth’s surface to generate the tooth whitening effect. The tooth whitens by at least one shade according to the Vita Shade Guide.