Tooth Whitening
Because having whiter teeth has now
become the number one aesthetic concern of most patients, there are a number of
ways to whiten teeth. The most effective is using a combination of
chairside and home tooth whitening systems that will whiten teeth
dramatically. Since tooth whitening only works on natural tooth enamel,
it is important to evaluate replacement of any old fillings, crowns, etc.
Replacement of any restorations will be done after bleaching so they will match
the newly bleached teeth.
A touch-up may be needed every several
years and more often if you smoke, drink coffee, tea or wine.
Reasons for tooth
whitening:
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Fluorosis (excessive fluoridation
during tooth development) |
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Normal wear of outer tooth layer |
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Stained teeth due to medications
(tetracycline, etc.) |
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Yellow, brown stained teeth |
What does tooth
whitening involve?
There are two types of professional
tooth whitening. We are proud to offer Zoom! 2 whitening,
which is an in office bleaching procedure for patients who desire results in a
shorter period of time. Patients may notice up to 7 to 10 shades lighter in 1
simple office visit. At home bleaching treatments give the same long lasting
results but require wearing bleaching gel in custom made bleaching trays, at
home for 4 to 8 weeks.
Whichever bleaching technique you
select will require an initial appointment to take impressions. These
impressions will be used to make your custom bleach trays. If you have selected
at home bleaching, your next visit will be to receive your bleach trays. A
small amount of cabamide peroxide is worn in the trays while you sleep.
Periodic evaluations will be necessary to monitor your progress. Dark foods and
beverages should be avoided during the 4 to 8 week period it will take to get
the final result.
If you select the new Zoom! 2
in office procedure, you will be given a special desensitizing toothpaste to
use prior to your Zoom! 2 procedure. The Zoom! 2 procedure uses hydrogen peroxide and a special UVA
light. A very specific isolation technique is used to protect the gums and lips
from the peroxide and the light. Following complete isolation, the bleaching
solution is applied to the teeth and the light is placed directly over them.
The light stays in place for 15 minutes. Most patients require 3 or 4 15-minute
sessions. During this time you may watch TV, listen to music or enjoy a
pampering hand or foot massage. At the end of the 15-minute session, the layer
of bleach is removed and reapplied. After the final session a desensitizing gel
is placed in your custom bleach tray. You will wear these home and leave them
in place for 30 minutes. Follow up appointments and continued at home bleaching
may be used for more dramatic shade changes.
You will receive care instructions for
your teeth and trays and be encouraged to visit your dentist regularly to help
maintain a beautiful, healthy white smile.
Lets compare whitening
products:
There are basically 3 types of whitening
methods available in our office: 1.) over-the-counter, like Crest White Strips
2.) Take-home Nupro Gold bleaching system 3.) ZOOM! 2 Whitening Lamp. As with
all whitening systems, the teeth should be decay and plaque free before you
begin. Coffee, smoking, tea, and other dark food and drinks and other factors
such as your teeth's own enamel density and color greatly effect the end result
you achieve with any of these whitening systems.
The Crest White Strips
are an economical way to remove surface stain from your teeth. It is
hydrogen peroxide and the strips are placed on the teeth like a band-aid and
left on no more than 1/2 hour per day for up to two weeks. Expect to have
tooth or gum sensitivity. The strips products are not custom made and can
irritate areas by having the solution exposed to the gums. Should you
develop mouth sores or other problems, discontinue immediately. We suggest
using a desensitizing tooth paste like Fluoridex if the teeth become sensitive.
This type of whitening is best for an even color, young tooth. You will
need to repeat the application often since the directions state that the
whitening may only last up to 6 months. Chronic long term exposure of hydrogen
peroxide may have negative effects like drying or desiccation of the
enamel. Both the strips and the tooth paste are available at our Smile
Shop.
The Take-home Nupro Gold
is a buffered carbamide peroxide in a glycerin base gel that you place in
custom made "trays". The dental office takes impressions of your teeth
and a laboratory makes a custom upper and lower bleach gel carrier (or tray)
and you also receive 6 tubes of gel. Because these trays are custom
prepared to fit your teeth and gums exactly, there is much reduced tooth
sensitivity with this system. This is an ideal way to correct one dark
tooth, prepare for dental restorations on your front teeth like crowns or
fillings, or difficult multiple shaded teeth like tetracycline stain. You
wear the custom trays a minimum of 4 hours (or sleep with them overnight) every
day for anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks depending on the severity of the color
problem you wish to correct. There are usually one or two office visits
included in the treatment to check the progress or re-polish the teeth during
treatment. This system usually has very long lasting results and low
maintenance. We recommend that you do a minimum of 2 or 3 nights wear
every 6 months when you get your teeth cleaned. Additional tubes of gel
are available at our Smile Shop.
The ZOOM! -2 ACP Lamp
whitening is the newest of the options. You may have seen the original
ZOOM! on TV make over shows. This is the newest in the generation of lamp
systems, with benefits of much less tooth sensitivity and the maximum whitening
in the shortest amount of time. We recommend that you use the Fluoridex
desensitizing tooth paste one week prior to starting whitening. The dental
office makes you trays as in the take-home system above, but these are used for
desensitizing gel immediately after treatment and touch up whitening gel as you
need it. This is the fastest of the systems, giving a great result in less than
one hour! The down side is that it is hydrogen peroxide gel and ultraviolet
light. Should you have a high gag reflex, TMJ or jaw problems staying open,
photo sensitivity, a history of melanoma, diabetes or heart conditions, this
may NOT be the treatment for you, unless you receive written permission from
your physician. Additional tubes of whitening gel and the Fluoridex
desensitizing toothpaste is available at our Smile Shop.
WARNING!: We do not recommend
any type of bleaching system to be used if you are pregnant or lactating,
should you have allergies to the ingredients listed, or other health concerns
as noted above. Physican approval is needed.
Any other questions, please direct them
to your dentist or hygienist. We are here to help you make the best
choice for your smile!
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