Teeth Whitening

Tooth whitening (or bleaching) is a simple, non-invasive procedure used to change the color of tooth enamel. A complimentary assessment will be done beforehand to see if you are a good candidate for whitening. We have 2 options for whitening teeth.

  1. In-Office Whitening
    In-office whitening is geared towards people who want a "fast fix" and don't have the time at home to do the custom fit whitening trays. A light-cured protective coating is painted on the gums to reduce the risk of chemical burns to the soft tissues. The whitening gel is then painted on the teeth typically your smile line which extends from your right side premolars to the left side premolars. A light is placed over the teeth and exposed for 20 minutes. This light energy is used to accelerate the process of whitening. Treatment time is 1 hour. Repeat treatment may be needed to
    achieve desirable results.
  2. Custom Fit Whitening Trays
    At the first of two appointments, an alginate impression is taken of your teeth from which a mold is created. Custom fitted trays are made on this mold. At the second appointment, the trays are tried on to ensure a proper fit, and adjustments are made if necessary. The whitening kit and instructions on use are given to you to take home. Total treatment time is approximately 2 weeks but a desirable result can be seen in as little as 2-3 days depending on the degree of staining and desired level of whitening. There may be left over gel in the whitening kit to do touch-ups if needed.

Tooth whitening is not permanent and may last approximately 1-2 years depending on your lifestyle such as smoking, drinking coffee, tea or red wine. It is most effective with yellow discolored teeth. Not everyone is a good candidate for teeth whitening. It is not recommended if teeth have decay or infected gums. It is also least effective when the original tooth color is grayish or if the teeth have been stained by antibacterial medications (like tetracycline). White-spot decalcifications may also be highlighted and become more noticeable directly following a whitening process, but with further applications the other parts of the teeth usually become more white and the spots less noticeable. Teeth whitening will not lighten white fillings (composite resins), crowns, bridges or implants. Replacement of restorations may be recommended to match the newly whitened teeth.

Tooth sensitivity is the risk after whitening. If you experience sensitive teeth prior to whitening, then your chances of experiencing sensitivity is higher compared to someone who doesn’t experience sensitive teeth. Normally if sensitivity is experienced it subsides shortly after the whitening procedure. A complimentary fluoride treatment is given after to lessen the discomfort, if any. Care instructions will be given at all appointments.

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