Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening (or bleaching) is a simple, non-invasive dental treatment used to change the color of natural tooth enamel and is an ideal way to enhance the beauty of your smile.
Whiter teeth has now become the number one esthetic concern of most patients. For the best whitening results we recommend a two-step system. First, we do an in-office whitening by applying highly concentrated whitening agents to the teeth during your appointment, followed by an in-home whitening system using custom made bleaching trays with professional-grade whitening agents that our office will provide. This two-step whitening system is the most popular with our patients and has been proven to provide the most dramatic results. Since teeth whitening only works on natural tooth enamel, it is important to evaluate replacement of any old fillings, crowns, etc. Replacement of any restorations will be done after bleaching so they will match the newly bleached teeth.
Teeth whitening is not permanent. A touch-up may be needed every several years, and more often if you smoke, drink coffee, tea, or wine.
Reasons for teeth whitening:
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Fluorosis (excessive fluoridation during tooth development).
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Normal wear of outer tooth layer.
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Stained teeth due to medications (tetracycline, etc.).
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Yellow, brown stained teeth.
What does teeth whitening involve?
We provide two types of whitening systems which can be used individually, or for best results they can be used together:
1) In-office whitening - This is usually about an hour and a half appointment during which we will apply ZOOM Whitening or BOOST Whitening agent directly to the teeth. The whitening agent stays on the teeth for approximately 30 minutes and is then removed. A second applicaiton is then applied for another 15-30 minutes depending on the desired results of the patient.
2) In-home whitening - This usually requires two visits. At the first appointment, impressions (molds) will be made of your teeth to fabricate custom, clear plastic, trays. If you do the in-office whitening in combination with the in-home whitening, we will take impressions for your custom whitening trays at the time of your in-office whitening appointment.
At your second appointment, you will try on the trays for proper fit, and adjustments will be made if necessary. The trays are worn with special whitening solution either twice a day for 30 minutes or overnight for a couple of weeks depending on the degree of staining and desired level of whitening. It is normal to experience tooth sensitivity during the time you are whitening your teeth, but it will subside shortly after you have stopped bleaching.
You will receive care instructions for your teeth and trays, and be encouraged to visit us regularly to help maintain a beautiful, healthy, white smile.
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