Most people love a bright white smile. For many, the sparkle from brushing twice daily with a fluoride-containing toothpaste, cleaning between their teeth once a day and the regular cleanings at your dentist’s office provides satisfactory teeth whitening results. However, if you are considering a brighter smile, you might be interested in teeth bleaching or a whitening procedure.

There are a variety of teeth whitening products and bleaching procedures available to help improve the look of your smile including: in-office bleaching, at-home bleaching and whitening toothpastes.

In-office whitening is done in the dental office. There are many in-office tooth whitening products available to dentists. These products are much stronger than the take-home bleach products, since in-office products have more hydrogen peroxide, the active ingredient. They are sometimes used with a light or laser.

Dr. Barrow prefers Opalescence® tooth whitening systems, a chemically activated whitening treatment that offers results in about an hour.

Some individuals with certain dental conditions may not be good candidates for bleaching. People with gum recession and exposed, highly sensitive
root surfaces may find the whitening ingredients further irritate their teeth.

If you have fillings, crowns, and extremely dark stains, talk to Dr. Barrow about whitening your teeth. A complete oral evaluation will help determine if bleaching is an appropriate course of treatment for you.

Questions?

We borrowed the following Tooth Whitening Frequently Asked Questions from the American Dental Association (ADA). Please feel free to contact us if you have additional questions or concerns about tooth whitening or to schedule your in-office teeth bleaching procedure.

• What should you ask your dentist?
• What is in-office bleaching?
• What are at-home procedures and products?
• How should I choose a whitening product?

What should you ask your dentist?

You may want to start by speaking with your dentist. He or she can tell you whether whitening procedures would be effective for you. Whiteners may not correct all types of discoloration. For example, yellow-ish hued teeth will probably bleach well, brownish-colored teeth may bleach less well, and grayish-hued teeth may not bleach well at all. Likewise, bleaching may not enhance your smile if you have had bonding or tooth-colored fillings placed in your front teeth. The whitener will not affect the color of these materials, and they will stand out in your newly whitened smile. In these cases, you may want to investigate other options, like porcelain veneers or dental bonding.

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What is in-office bleaching?

If you are a candidate for bleaching, your dentist may suggest a procedure that can be done in his or her office. This procedure is called chairside bleaching and may require more than one office visit. Each visit may take from 30 minutes to one hour.

During chairside bleaching, the dentist will apply either a protective gel to your gums or a rubber shield to protect the oral soft tissues. A bleaching agent is then applied to the teeth, and a special light may be used to enhance the action of the agent. Lasers have been used during tooth whitening procedures to enhance the action of the whitening agent.

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What are at-home procedures and products?

There are several types of products available for use at home, which can either be dispensed by your dentist or purchased over-the-counter.

Bleaching solutions. These products contain peroxide(s), which actually bleach the tooth enamel. These products typically rely on percent carbamide peroxide as the bleaching agent, carbamide peroxide comes in several different concentrations (10%, 16%, 22%).

Peroxide-containing whiteners typically come in a gel and are placed in a mouthguard. Usage regimens vary. Some products are used for about twice a day for 2 weeks, and others are intended for overnight use for 1-2 weeks. If you obtain the bleaching solution from your dentist, he or she can make a custom-fitted mouthguard for you that will fit your teeth precisely. Currently, only dentist-dispensed home-use 10% carbamide peroxide tray-applied gels carry the ADA Seal.

You also may want to speak with your dentist should any side effects become bothersome. For example, teeth can become sensitive during the period when you are using the bleaching solution. In many cases, this sensitivity is temporary and should lessen once the treatment is finished. Some people also experience soft tissue irritation—either from a tray that doesn't fit properly or from solution that may come in contact with the tissues. If you have concerns about such side effects, you should discuss them with your dentist.

Toothpastes. All toothpastes help remove surface stain through the action of mild abrasives. "Whitening" toothpastes in the ADA Seal of Acceptance program have special chemical or polishing agents that provide additional stain removal effectiveness. Unlike bleaches, these ADA Accepted products do not alter the intrinsic color of teeth.

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How should I choose a whitening product?

When selecting a whitener or any dental product, be sure to look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance—your assurance that they have met ADA standards of safety and effectiveness.

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