Teeth whitening

Teeth whitening is a procedure that helps to remove stains and deeper discolorations, resulting in a whiter and more appealing smile.

It is best performed under professional supervision, and following an initial consultation that involves a complete dental exam including radiographs, photographs, and teeth shade recording. You will be questioned on past medical problems (medications used), your habits (smoking, tea/coffee, wine drinking, etc), and other factors that may affect a final result of teeth whitening. Finally, the most appropriate bleaching option will be recommended based on your lifestyle, oral health, and financial considerations.

Teeth whitening may not be recommended or effective in all situations. Untreated decay, dental infections, acid erosions, teeth sensitivity, or periodontal disease need to be controlled before starting the procedure. Teeth discolored from tetracycline or too much fluoride, teeth with a history of trauma, root canal treated teeth, teeth with metallic fillings, or age-related teeth discolorations may not respond well to the procedure. If you have fillings, crowns, veneers in your front teeth — the bleach will not change the color of these materials, making them stand out in your newly whitened smile.

Professional teeth whitening involves either in-home or in-office methods, or a combination of both. With in-home bleaching, impressions (“moulds”) of teeth are taken to fabricate custom-fitted trays. The trays are then used at home for bleaching gel application for a specified period of time (usually 2 weeks). Some whitening products are intended for use overnight (for up to 8 hours), which shortens the treatment period to 1 week.

In-office method (so called laser whitening or power whitening) delivers whitening results in a short amount of time (about 1 hour). A barrier along the gum line, and retractors are placed to keep the soft tissues away from the whitening product. The bleaching gel is painted onto the front surfaces of teeth, activated with a curing light or laser, and left on the teeth for a specific time. Once the optimum shade has been reached, the teeth are rinsed with water, dried and fluoride application is performed to minimize teeth sensitivity.

After the procedure it’s important to avoid eating and drinking for about 1 hour and to keep to the “white diet” for 48 hours. It’s advisable to use a soft toothbrush, white toothpaste made for sensitive teeth, and non-colored mouth rinse. It’s advisable to self-apply a fluoride gel (brush-on or wear in your trays for 4 minutes) which helps remineralize teeth.

The most common side effects during teeth whitening, tooth sensitivity and gum irritation usually disappear after 48 hours. If you do experience tooth sensitivity during in-home treatment, contact our office. It may be necessary to select an alternate bleaching product, change the delivery system, treatment duration, interval or even discontinue the treatment.

Whitening effect is not permanent – it can last from a few months to up to 3 years. Touch-up maintenance (a single application of the bleaching product) will be required. It should not be performed more often than every 6 months.

Over a decade of research has proven whitening methods to be both safe and effective when used as directed.