Teeth bleaching has become very popular in the United States. It is easy, effective, and relatively inexpensive to have done. Everyone wants whiter teeth.
Dr. David Hall, the author of this cosmetic dentistry information site, was a pioneer in this procedure. He began bleaching teeth in 1985. In 1991 he published his landmark research, demonstrating that, contrary to the then prevailing thought, there was no advantage in etching the teeth with acid prior to bleaching them. This research was widely cited in the dental literature and helped open the door to today's simpler tooth-whitening techniques.
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Home Teeth BleachingThe most popular tooth bleaching technique involves having a dentist make a clear plastic tray that you can wear inconspicuously either during the day or at night. Bleaching gel is placed in this tray, and, when it is given a period of time to soak into the teeth, it makes the teeth whiter. The gel is kept on the teeth for several hours a day for a week or two or more. The results of this treatment are dramatic, and the longer the tray with the gel is worn, the whiter your teeth become. The dentist will monitor your progress with short follow-up appointments.
While this technique requires training beyond what may be taught in some dental schools, it isn't difficult for a general dentist to obtain the training necessary to perform it adequately. So, while we recommend an expert cosmetic dentist for smile makeovers and other procedures requiring artistry, you can probably have your family dentist do teeth bleaching and get nice results. For specialized situations, however, it is probably best for a patient to see an expert cosmetic dentist, who will have training in all of its ramifications and the special situations. |
The Teeth Bleaching TechniqueThe dentist will usually need to start with an examination. Some information is needed before it is safe to begin treatment. There have been cases reported where the nerves of teeth have been damaged when teeth with exposed dentin have been whitened with this technique. So the dentist needs to make sure there are no open cavities, defective fillings, or undue sensitivity in the teeth.
It also helps if the teeth are cleaned prior to attempting to whiten them.
Then custom trays are fabricated that exactly fit your teeth. On the right is a photograph of these teeth bleaching trays. They need to fit closely so that a minimum of the bleaching gel can be used, to minimize swallowing it. They also need to be trimmed carefully to keep from covering the gum tissue, as the gel can be slightly irritating to the gums. Other modifications may be needed for certain patients, such as cutting the tray away from sensitive parts of certain teeth. |
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The tray is then worn for up to several hours a day, either at night or during the day, depending on the particular gel that is used.
After the teeth are bleached, the trays can be kept by the patient and used for touch-up treatments every year or two. Touch-ups are usually required because people tend to keep consuming teeth-staining foods such as grape juice, coffee, berries, and other highly pigmented foods.
Advantages of tooth bleaching, compared with other techniques (bonding or porcelain veneers) that can whiten your teeth:
- This treatment is much more comfortable than getting porcelain veneers or bonding.
- It is less expensive than these other treatments.
- Nothing artificial has to be bonded or attached to your teeth.
- Bleaching makes your smile permanently whiter.
- Maintaining maximum whiteness requires only minor touch-up treatments every couple of years.
- Teeth bleaching usually whitens quite noticeably, and you can control the results by how diligent you are with the treatments.
- You can continue to whiten as much as you like by purchasing refill kits of the gel.
Disadvantages of bleaching as compared with bonding or porcelain veneers:
- With this treatment, it isn't possible to predict exactly how white your teeth will become.
- Since you are doing the treatment on your own, there is a potential for abuse by your not following directions.
- The results are dependent upon your home efforts.
- Dark tetracycline-stained teeth can't be bleached effectively to appear natural.
Click here for more detailed information about the teeth bleaching procedure.
There are many claims for whitening toothpastes. Dr. Hall evaluates these claims
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What if you have fillings on your front teeth and you want to whiten them? Will the fillings get whiter too? If not, how do you do that? For the answer, see our page on tooth whitening with fillings.
Click here for referral to an expert cosmetic dentist.
Questions about this subject from visitors to our site:
- Can porcelain veneers be whitened after they're put on your teeth?
- Will tooth bleaching damage any of my dental work?
- What to do for a single discolored root canal tooth.
- My teeth are becoming very sensitive while I'm bleaching. What should I do about this?
- What's the best treatment for tetracycline stains? Can I bleach my teeth if I have tetracycline stain? Will they be white enough?
- Should I have my teeth bleached while I'm nursing or pregnant? Is there a possibility it will hurt the baby?
- Does whitening damage your teeth and gums?
- Do over-the-counter whitening products work?
- What about Crest Whitestrips? Do they work?
- Is there such a thing as tooth whitening relapse, or is this treatment permanent?
- Click here for information about laser tooth whitening.
This information is provided for you by the mynewsmile.com cosmetic dentist referral service, and was personally written by Dr. David Hall.
