Patent ID: 8491874

Claim:
A method of whitening a tooth comprising: applying to the tooth an oxidizing agent comprising a compound of the formula R 1 (MnO 4 ) n , or mixtures thereof, wherein R 1 , is H, an alkali-metal, or an alkaline earth metal, and n is 1 when R 1 is H or an alkali-metal and 2 when R 1 is an alkaline earth metal; and a reducing agent comprising 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; wherein the oxidizing agent is applied to the tooth for between about 0.2 to about 15 minutes followed by the application of the reducing agent, and the oxidizing agent reacts with the reducing agent on the tooth's surface to whiten the color of the tooth by at least one shade according to the Vita Shade Guide.