Whitening
Professional teeth whitening is faster, more effective, and longer lasting than treatments you find over the counter. As we age, our teeth darken over time from diet and habits. We can brighten your teeth by five to ten shades, but maintaining good oral hygiene and steering away from certain foods and beverages will help keep any future whitening services to a minimum. We could also prescribe some desensitizing agents for you to use at home that helps with the whitening process.
Professional whitening, like the OTC counterpart, may cause temperature sensitivity and gum irritation. With proper use, gum irritation can be easily avoided; and the sensitivity, if any, is only temporary.
In-office Whitening
Your teeth could be whitened at our office as fast as in one appointment, approximately 1-2 hours. This procedure is usually done when patients need to have teeth whitened in a very short period of time, like the same day or within the next few days.
However, this procedure is very costly and does not guarantee long lasting result. Hence, our office usually recommends a more cost-effective and longer lasting Home Whitening method as described in the section below this.
Procedure:
Thorough cleansing and polishing of teeth
Application of gum protectant
Application of whitening agent
Whitening agent is light-activated
Whitening agent is left on teeth for a period of time depending on the shade of the teeth
Teeth and gums are rinsed clear of the whitening agent
It is very common to feel sensitive during and after this procedure due to the use of a very potent whitening agent. The sensitivity may last for a few days to a few weeks. The use of desensitizing agent will help ease the sensitivity over time. It often results in more and longer lasting sensitivity than the Home Whitening method. This is another main reason why we do not recommend this In-Office Whitening method unless it is absolutely necessary.
Home Whitening
Your teeth could also be whitened at the comfort of your home. This procedure is more economical and long lasting than the In-Office Whitening procedure; hence the most commonly recommended whitening method at our office.
Procedure:
Impression of all teeth which takes about 10 minutes
Making of Custom-made flexible trays at our lab
Dispensing of the trays and whitening kit along with detailed instruction at the next appointment in as early as 1-2 days
Brushing and flossing of all the teeth before every use of the whitening product
Application of the whitening gel into the trays
Placement of the trays onto the teeth
Wiping all excessive gel sitting on the gum tissues with Q tip
Wearing the trays with gel for 30 minutes
Brushing of teeth and trays clear of the whitening gel
Repeating the whole process for 7- 14 days
It is common for teeth to feel a bit more temperature sensitive during the whitening period - this is only a temporary symptom
Process can be stopped and restarted whenever patient wants
Application can be customized to whiten certain teeth that are darker than the others
Application can also done intermittently depending patient’s availability and level of sensitivity
Post-procedure Care
Do not be surprised if you see white blotches on your teeth for a few days following whitening. Actually the teeth will continue to whiten as these white spots dissipate. Maintaining good oral hygiene and minimize exposure to food that could stain teeth will help to keep teeth white after whitening. Future touch-up may be needed in 6 months to a year depending on patient’s preference. As long as the whitening trays can fit over the teeth, the trays can be used for future touch-ups. Extra whitening gel could be purchased at our office for a very affordable price.
Things that could stain teeth:
Tobacco products
Coffee and tea
Red wine
Food coloring
Any bright-colored drinks