How is Tooth Whitening done?
An impression is taken to make a specialized stint to hold the bleach against the teeth. The material is used each night for about 3-4 hours for a week or two, after which significant whitening will occur. In some cases, the change is nothing short of brilliant. For confidence in appearance, tooth bleaching technology offers improvements in yellowing, aging or stained teeth. For very severely stained teeth, crowns or veneers may be more appropriate.
Using a carbamide peroxide using gel or a film strip as a medium, the chemical penetrates the pores of the teeth, breaking down and removing the stains that have accumulated over the years. The whitening is not an actual coloration process, but rather a deep-cleaning that allows the teeth to become more translucent, thus appearing as a whiter hue. This can cause damage over time and should not be done in excess, as the whitening process weakens tooth enamel and can cause sensitivity.
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 the most popular and least expensive. The in-office method allows the dentist to place a higher concentration of bleach over the teeth. At-Home MethodA custom mouth piece or “tray” is made to fit your teeth by the dental office. 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 one to five hours 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. In-Office MethodThe gum tissues are covered
An impression is taken to make a specialized “mouthguard” or “stent” to hold the bleach against the teeth. The material is used each night for about 3-4 hours for three days, after which significant whitening will occur. In some cases, the change is nothing short of brilliant. For confidence in appearance, bleaching technology offers improvements in yellowing, aging or stained teeth. For very severely stained teeth, crowns or veneers may be more appropriate.
There are many options availablesome are available over-the-counter like strips, toothpastes, and paint-on whiteners. Professional whitening can be performed in the office using a special light and strong bleaching gel, or it can be done at home via a tray you wear on your teeth during the daytime or overnight.
