Teeth Whitening
Teeth Whitening
- Licensed Dentist - Member of the American Dental Association- Over 25 Years of Experience
Get Whiter Teeth
Many teeth whitening systems and products are available at Dhami Family Dentistry, including whitening toothpastes, over-the-counter gels, rinses, strips, trays, and other whitening products.
Teeth whitening is ideal for people who have healthy, unrestored teeth (no fillings), and gums. Individuals with yellow tones to their teeth respond best. But this cosmetic procedure is not recommended for everyone. Find out if teeth whitening is right for you. Call us
for more details.
Whitening Toothpastes
All toothpastes help remove surface stains because they contain mild abrasives.
Over-the-Counter Whitening Strips and Gels
Whitening gels are clear, peroxide-based gels applied with a small brush directly to the surface of your teeth. Instructions generally call for twice-a-day application for 14 days. Initial results are seen in a few days and final results are sustained for about four months.
Whitening strips are very thin, virtually invisible strips that are coated with a peroxide-based whitening gel. The strips are applied twice daily for 30 minutes for 14 days. Initial results are seen in a few days and final results are sustained for about four months.
Tray-Based Tooth Whiteners
Tray-based tooth whitening systems, purchased either over-the-counter or from a dentist, involve filling a mouth guard-like tray with a gel whitening solution -- which contains a peroxide-bleaching agent.
The tray is worn for a period of time, generally for a couple of hours daily, typically during the night up to a week or longer (depending on the degree of discoloration and desired level of whitening).
In-Office Whitening
In-office bleaching provides the quickest way to whiten teeth. With in-office bleaching, the whitening product is applied directly to the teeth. These products can be used in combination with heat, a special light, and / or a laser.
Results are seen in only one, 30- to 60-minute treatment. But to achieve dramatic results, several appointments are usually needed.
However, with in-office bleaching, dramatic results can be seen after the first treatment. This type of whitening is also the most expensive technique.
How Long Do Teeth Whitening Effects Last?
Teeth whitening is not permanent. People who expose their teeth to foods and beverages that cause staining may see the whiteness start to fade in as little as one month. Those who avoid foods and beverages that stain may be able to wait one year or longer before another whitening treatment or touch-up is needed.
The degree of whiteness will vary from individual to individual depending on the condition of the teeth, the level of staining, and the type of bleaching system used.
At-Home Treatment Vs. Dentist-Supervised Treatment
There are differences between whitening teeth at home and having them bleached in a dentist's office, including:
- Strength of bleaching agent: Over-the-counter products and dentist-supervised at-home products usually contain a lower strength bleaching agent, with about a 10% to 22% carbamide peroxide content, which is equivalent to about 3% hydrogen peroxide.
In-office, professionally applied tooth whitening products contain hydrogen peroxide in concentrations ranging from 15% to 43%.
- Mouthpiece trays: With dentist-supervised at-home bleaching products, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth and make a mouthpiece tray that is customized to exactly fit your teeth. This customization allows for maximum contact between the whitening gel, which is applied to the mouthpiece tray and the teeth.
A custom-made tray also minimizes the gel's contact with gum tissue. These types of “one size fits all” trays can irritate the gums and soft tissue by allowing more bleaching gel to seep onto these tissues. With in-office procedures, the bleaching agent is applied directly to the teeth.