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Procedures - Tooth Whitening
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Having a beautiful smile may be even easier than you think. Many people achieve
the look they've been dreaming of with our simple "bleaching" procedure.
It's safe, quick, and inexpensive. Just let us know at any
appointment if you would like to begin whitening. You can lighten only
your upper teeth or both the upper and lower, depending on how much you
show when you talk and smile.
In only a couple of days your custom bleaching trays will be ready for you to
pick up. We provide you with a special bleaching agent that you put into the
clear, almost invisible trays (Fig. A). With only a few hours of wear per day, our
special whitening agent bubbles stains right out of your enamel in a very
short amount of time without altering the structure of the teeth or existing
dental work in any way. When your teeth reach the brightness you want, only
occasional treatment is needed to maintain your new smile.
Dental whitening can be used to correct many tooth discolorations. These
discolorations may have been caused by staining, aging, or chemical damage
to teeth. Using the latest in bleaching technology, we can offer a safe method
for creating a beautiful "Brilliant" smile. In cases of extreme tooth
discoloration, bleaching may not be the answer and crowns, or veneers may be
the only choice, but because of the low cost of whitening treatments, bleaching
is nearly always worth a solid try.
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Key Benefits
- Corrects brown, yellow and mottled tooth staining
- Works on people of any age.
- Is a near permanent solution for a "dull" smile, restoring brightness and
brings a smile alive.
How is it done?
An impression is taken to make a specialized "mouthguard" or
"tray" to hold the bleach against the teeth. Our system needs to be worn
once daily for 2 hours.
In some cases, the change is nothing short of brilliant. For confidence in
appearance, bleaching technology allows us to promise improvements in yellowing,
aging or stained teeth. For very severely stained teeth, crowns or veneers may
be more appropriate.
Considerations
Old resin restorations and crowns will not whiten so these may need to be
replaced after whiting to attain the results you are looking for.
Over the counter bleaching agents are available for purchase at drug stores and
pharmacies. However, since these products can cause harm to the gums and teeth,
it's better to use products that our practice recommends.
Instructions for Successful Tooth Whitening
- Brush and floss teeth before inserting tray
- Dispense a small dot of gel on the bottom front side of each tooth well.
If gel oozes out of tray, wipe excess off gums with a finger.
- After whitening, brush teeth and rinse out whitening tray.
Do's & Don'ts
- Don't eat or drink while wearing the whitening trays.
- Try to avoid heavy-staining products such as colas, tobacco, coffee and
red wine.
- Do not put gel in tooth wells that have crowns. Porcelain will not whiten.
- Wear the whitening trays a minimum of two hours a day.
- Do not use whitening products if you are pregnant or lactating.
Sensitivity
Occasionally, patients will experience mild sensitivity during the whitening
procedure. This should diminish with each use.
If your gums are sensitive, check to see that the whitening tray is not rubbing
against them. Your dentist can adjust this for you if necessary.
If your teeth are sensitive, try shortening the time for each session.
Avoid citrus foods and juices if teeth are sensitive.
If any sensitivity persists, discontinue the treatments and consult your
dentist. The discomfort will disappear within one to three days after ending
treatments.
Additional Information
Whitening process takes approximately one to two weeks.
Your teeth may seem too white when you first
complete your whitening treatments. They will attain their new, stable
shade about two weeks later.
Some patients never need to re-whiten their teeth after treatment. However,
if your teeth seem to be diminishing in whiteness, it is possible to do a one
or two night touchup every four to six months. Consult with us on this.
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