Brighten
Your Smile
Bleaching
is a very conservative and non-invasive approach to creating a
brighter and more appealing smile. Teeth can often take on a darker
and unattractive appearance with age or from contact with staining
substances. Tobacco, coffee or tea, juices, poor hygiene, genetics,
and natural aging can cause the discoloration. Bleaching has become
very popular for a whiter and brighter smile because it's fast,
simple and inexpensive with excellent and predictable results.
How
It's Done
There are two commonly used methods for bleaching: at-home and
in-office. Both begin with an office consultation to determine
if the patient is a good candidate for the bleaching process.
The at-home technique is least expensive. The in-office method
(power bleaching) allows the dentist to place a higher concentration
of an oxidizing agent to the teeth.
Types
of Teeth Whitening Procedures
At-Home
Method
A custom mouthpiece or "tray" is made by the dental
office to fit your teeth. This tray fits over the patient's teeth
and holds the bleaching material against the teeth for a specified
period of time. There are different concentrations of bleach that
are worn via the tray for 30 minutes per day for an average of
10 to 14 days. The regimen will be determined by the dentist and
may differ for each patient. If the teeth become more sensitive
to hot and cold, a "desensitizing" material may be used
in the same tray on alternating days. Results are usually excellent
with this method and the trays can be used to remove future staining.
In-Office
Method (Power Bleaching)
The gum tissues are covered to protect them from being irritated
by a higher concentration of the bleaching material. The bleach
may be then activated by a high intensity light or a laser to
accelerate the process. This method is usually repeated at separate
appointments. Most patients require a touch-up after one to five
years, depending on the patient's habits and desires.
What
About Over-The-Counter Options?
Both at-home and in-office treatments are considerably more effective
than the whiteners available at retail outlets. The over-the-counter
products have much lower concentrations of bleach and sometimes
use materials and ill-fitting trays that can cause damage to the
teeth and gums.
There
are many causes for tooth discoloration.
Coffee,
cola, smoking, aging, and some medications can cause your teeth
to become stained. Your dentist can determine the source of your
discoloration and recommend the best whitening system for you.
In most cases the results are striking.
Don't
be misled by unproven and ineffective over-the-counter whitening
solutions.
Our
office dispenses a simple, safe and effective tooth whitening
system that is closely monitored by our clinical staff for maximum
results in the least amount of time.
