Regardless of how well you care for your mouth, it is inevitable that, over time, some yellowing or discoloration will occur. This gradual change can be caused by aging and substances that stain your teeth (such as coffee and tobacco). A tooth whitening treatment can be performed either as an take home tray system, or in our office using a strong solution activated with a laser. While neither of these methods stops future discoloration, these treatments bring about whiter teeth and help create a brighter smile.
Take Home Whitening
The most popular method of whitening teeth is the at-home, dentist-supervised option. We take a mold of your teeth and create a comfortable, customized mouthtray. The mouthtray holds a mild solution whose main ingredient is carbamide peroxide, a substance that reacts with water to release a non-toxic bleaching element (hydrogen peroxide). The mouthtray is placed inside the mouth, and sits only against the teeth, thereby avoiding contact with the gums.
Patients can choose either to wear the mouthtray throughout the night or during the day for two one hour periods. Treatment lasts one to two weeks. Patients with more sensitive teeth may opt for a longer time frame of three to five weeks.
Laser Whitening
This method provides instant results and is recommened for those patients who need white teeth immediately or prefer not to wear trays in the mouth.
During the one hour appointment, strong gel is applied to the teeth after covering the gum tissue to protect it. Laser energy is used to activate the gel and increase its penetration into the tooth enamel.
