Bleaching

Abstract

In the 19th century, new methods were developed with oxalic acid (Chappel 1887) and super-peroxide, which is thus the first documented use of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2; Harlan 1884). In 1918, Abbot discovered a fundamental formula for tooth bleaching, entailing a combination of light, heat production and the chemical interactions of stabilised H2O2at 35 % (superoxol). Since then, the formula has been refined continuously, but not changed in essence.