About Whitening

We all want a white, brilliant smile, but very few of us are lucky enough to have naturally brilliant-white teeth. Our teeth discolor as we age, they absorb stains from smoking and the foods we eat and drink; foods like coffee, tea and red wine. Calculus or tartar also contribute to discoloration and certain antibiotics are known to discolor teeth. As a result of this daily assault on the natural color of our teeth, tooth-whitening has become widely available and proven an extremely popular and cost effective means to improve one's smile.

Is It Safe?

Whitening your teeth under the supervision of your dentist has proven safe in clinical studies. Like any other course of treatment, we encourage our patients to come in for a consultation before deciding that whitening is for them. While the risks are small; Tooth Whitening is not for everyone. Discolored teeth may be a sign that something is wrong, sometimes it signals the presence of decay or infection and whitening can sometimes increase sensitivity. Scheduling an appointment allows us the opportunity to perform a thorough evaluation, to determine whether or not you are good candidate for in-office treatment, at-home supervised treatments or over-the-counter products.

Types of Treatment

There are three types of treatment; in-office, at-home supervised treatments and over-the-counter products, of all the treatments available, in-office whitening is the quickest and the results tend to be the most dramatic.

• In-Office Treatment
  The procedure has been around for many years and is safe, affordable and effective. The procedure is simple and takes about an hour, a half-hour of preparation and one hour of treatment. Peroxide is applied to your teeth and a light or heat source is subsequently applied to hasten the bleaching process. The results are instaneous.
  
  
• Supervised Treatment
  At-home procedures, sometimes called night guard vital bleaching consists of placing peroxide in a tray (night guard) that has been custom fitted for your mouth, by an oral health care professional. The bleaching solutions vary in potency and may be worn for an hour, or throughout the night. The length of treatment is generally seven to ten days depending on how long the tray is worn and the strength of the bleach that's used. These variables will be decided, at the time of your consultation. Bleaching is effective in lightning most stains, an exception is tooth-colored fillings; fillings will remain the same color, they will not whiten.
Permanence

None of the available treatment options are permanent solutions, but some can last as long as one to three years, before additional treatments are required to maintain your smile. Whitening procedures can lighten your teeth up to seven shades; a change of two or three shades can make a significant difference in your appearance.

Increased Sensitivity

A small percentage of people experience increased sensitivity to hot or cold, as a result of whitening. Sensitivity normally subsides within the first 48 hours after treatment. In those rare cases where sensitivity persists your dentist can treat the sensitivity with the application of fluoride or the use of readily available over the counter products.