A CMP slurry comprising polishing abrasives containing mixture abrasives of silica and alumina is used. In CMP using the slurry comprising mixture abrasives of silica and alumina as polishing abrasives, a down force-dependency of a polishing rate is high and an increase in dishing can be effectively suppressed.

A dental bleaching gel composition having a long shelf life for use with an activator system to cause accelerated bleaching action of a peroxide bleaching agent in the bleaching gel composition when applied upon a tooth surface and to a method for applying and activating a dental bleaching gel upon a tooth surface for cosmetically whitening the tooth and/or for the treatment of stains or discolorations over a shortened time period. The dental bleaching gel has a pH independent thickening agent, a stabilizing agent for the peroxide bleaching agent and a FD & C approved dye. The activator system comprises an activator for accelerating the bleaching action of the peroxide bleaching agent and an applicator for storing the activator in a dry form separated from the bleaching gel composition such that upon contacting the applicator to the bleaching gel composition the peroxide bleaching agent contained in the gel is activated with the applicator being used to substantially simultaneously apply the bleaching gel to the tooth or teeth to be bleached.

A method for whitening a dental surface comprises nonsimultaneously applying a whitening composition to the surface, the whitening composition comprising at least one orally acceptable peroxy compound, and directing a volume of up to about 2.5 ml of an atomized activating composition on to the surface, wherein the activating composition comprises, in the volume so directed, a peroxy compound activating effective amount of at least one orally acceptable basifying agent, and wherein applying the whitening composition and directing the activating composition are separated by an interval not greater than a peroxy compound activating effective interval. The atomized composition can be directed on to the dental surface before or after application of the whitening composition.

Dental bleaching compositions that include perborate bleaching agents, such as sodium perborate monohydrate. The bleaching agent is dispersed within a sticky and viscous carrier such as a mixture of propylene glycol and silica fume. Anhydrous propylene glycol and/or anhydrous glycerin are especially useful in order to maintain the desired degree of hydration of the perborate being used. Flavorants may be added to enhance the taste of the dental compositions, since they will be used within a person's mouth. For best results, a flexible, thin-walled, comfortable-fitting, custom dental tray is used with the dental bleaching compositions. The dental compositions are sufficiently sticky and viscous so as to adhere and retain a dental tray against a person's teeth which is designed so as to not exert significant mechanical pressure onto the person's teeth.

Disclosed are compositions for bleaching teeth comprising at least two parts blended together before each application. The compositions offer extended shelf life and accelerated bleaching action while significantly reducing the possibility of user discomfort. In preferred embodiments, one part of the composition comprises peroxides of monovalent or bivalent metals such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, and zinc, and another part comprises an aqueous solution of one or more acids able to convert said metal peroxides into hydrogen peroxide, such reaction occurring under conditions resulting in the acceleration of the generation of radical oxygen and, consequently, the teeth whitening process. The inventive compositions allow for adequate water in the composition to avoid tissue desiccation and associated user discomfort without compromising the shelf life of the composition.