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For many dental professionals, the concept of esthetic dentistry is a relatively new one. However, the idea has been used in dental offices since the late 1800's. It is only with the recent advent of enamel and dentin bonding and the subsequent improvements in materials and techniques that this portion of oral health care has been thrust into the forefront. For many individuals, having a great smile is a very important part of their overall appearance.  Whether a person is in business, entertainment or sales, having a great smile can be vital in making a good impression. A fantastic smile is an accessory you always carry with you and patients are willing to pay a premium for it.
Over the years, teeth undergo wear and tear just like anything else. Whether it is chipping from trauma, wear from bruxism or stain from dietary factors, teeth can often appear less than perfect. For those patients unhappy with their smile, modern dentistry has many ways to restore that picture-perfect smile.
In The United States in 2000, it was estimated that some 54% of the adult population drank coffee everyday - that's well over 100 million people! Add that to the approximately 40 million smokers and countless numbers who drink tea and red wine and you have a significant percentage of the population with stained teeth. This, coupled with the increased demand for esthetics, has produced a tremendous market for tooth whitening.
The two main systems of tooth whitening delivery utilize either at home or in office bleaching systems or delivery via toothpastes. There has been a recent boom in the production and sale of tooth whitening products. The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry says that the teeth whitening industry has grown more than 300% from 1996 to 2000. As of 2004, in the U.S. alone, it was a 500 million dollar a year industry. With the recent increase in popularity of "makeover" reality television shows, the signs only point to further growth.
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