people achieve the look they've been dreaming of with our simple "bleaching" procedure.
It's safe, quick, and inexpensive. Just let us know at any appointment you would like to begin whitening. You can lighten only your upper teeth or both the upper and lower, depending on how much you show when you talk and smile.
In only a day or two your custom bleaching trays will be ready for you to pick up. We provide you with a special bleaching agent that you put into the cleaner, almost invisible trays. With only a few hours of wear per day, our special whitening agent bubbles stains right off of your enamel in a very short amount or time without altering the structure of the teeth or existing dental work in any way. When your teeth reach the brightness you want, only occasional treatment is needed to maintain your new smile. We'll want to take "after" photos at your next appointment.
Dental whitening can be used to correct many tooth discolorations. These discolorations may have been caused by staining, aging, or chemical damage to teeth. Using the latest in bleaching technology, we can offer a safe method for creating a beautiful "brilliant" smile in cases of extreme tooth discoloration, bleaching may not be the answer and crowns, or veneers may be the only choice, but because of the low cost of whitening treatments, bleaching is nearly always worth a solid try.
Key Benefits
- Corrects brown, yellow and mottled tooth staining
- Works on people of any age.
- Is a near permanent solution for a "dull" smile, restoring brightness and brings a smile alive.
How is it done?
An impression is taken to make a specialized "mouth guard" or "tray" hold the bleach against the teeth. The bleaching solution is placed in the trays and they are worn for a specific time period given by our staff.
In some cases, the change is nothing short of brilliant. For confidence in appearance, bleaching technology allows us to promise improvements in yellowing, aging or stained teeth. For very severely stained teeth, crowns or veneers may be more appropriate.
Considerations
Over the counter bleaching agents are available for purchase at drug stores and pharmacies. However, since these products can cause harm to the gums and teeth, it's better to use products that our practitioner recommends.
Instructions for Successful Tooth Whitening
- Brush and floss teeth before inserting tray.
- Dispense a small dot of gel on the bottom from side of each tooth well.
- If gel oozes out of tray, wipe excess off gums with finger.
- After whitening, brush teeth and rinse out whitening tray.
Do's and Don'ts
- Don't eat or drink while wearing the whitening trays.
- Try to avoid heavy-staining products such as colas, tobacco, coffee and red wine.
- Keep gel at room temperature. Do not expose to heat.
- Do not put gel in tooth wells that have crowns. Porcelain will not whiten.
- Wear the whitening trays a minimum of two hours a day.
- Fastest results will come with overnight whitening.
- Do not use whitening products if you are pregnant or lactating.
Sensitivity
- Occasionally, patients will experience mild sensitivity during the whitening procedure. This should diminish with each use.
- If your gums are sensitive, check to see that the whitening tray is not rubbing against them. Dr. Staley can adjust this for you if necessary.
- If your teeth are sensitive, try shortening the time for each session.
- Avoid citrus foods and juices if teeth are sensitive.
- If any sensitivity persists, discontinue the treatments and consult Dr. Staley. The discomfort will disappear within one to three days after ending treatments.
Additional Information
- Whitening process takes approximately one to two weeks.
- Your teeth may seem too white when you first complete your whitening treatments. They will attain their new, stable shade about two weeks later.
- Some patients never need to re-whiten their teeth after treatment. However, if your teeth seem to be diminishing in whiteness, it is possible to do a one or two night touch up every four to six months. Consult with us on this.
