title: Bleaching and bonding for the older patient.
abstract: Older people who remain reasonably well may wish to maintain or enhance their dental and oral appearance, preferably at minimal biologic and financial costs. Bleaching and bonding represents a very good treatment option and a sensible strategy for this group. Bleaching addresses the discoloration, while direct composite bonding can improve the shape of worn, or otherwise unaesthetic, teeth without damaging the structure or health of the residual tooth tissue. This pragmatic treatment is well tolerated by older patients. The visual and functional improvements are greatly appreciated by this group, partly because of the non-destructive and affordable nature of the benefits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bleaching and bonding represents a proven, sensible, pragmatic, affordable and practical approach to managing the aesthetic problems of older patients, and the benefits are achievable without destroying their residual sound tooth tissue.
authors.affiliation: King's College London.
authors.forename: Martin G D
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kelleher
authors.forename: Serpil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Djemal
authors.forename: Ahmed S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Al-Khayatt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ray-Chaudhuri
authors.forename: Peter F A
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Briggs
authors.forename: Richard W J
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Porter
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000077463:Carbamide Peroxide; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001840:Dental Bonding / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D016379:Denture, Partial, Fixed, Resin-Bonded; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005460:Fluorides, Topical / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010545:Peroxides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012449:Safety; D014002:Tin Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014073:Tooth Bleaching / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D058205:Tooth Bleaching Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014075:Tooth Discoloration / Q000628:therapy; D057085:Tooth Wear / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014508:Urea / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D005460:Fluorides, Topical; D010545:Peroxides; D014002:Tin Fluorides; D058205:Tooth Bleaching Agents; D000077463:Carbamide Peroxide; D014508:Urea