Teeth Whitening

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A smile is one of the simplest gestures that we can make, but it can also be one of the biggest. A bright smile is considered a reflection of friendliness, honesty, happiness, and health.

An attractive smile can be beneficial in social situations, help attract a partner and also make you more confident and outgoing. We are bombarded with pictures of celebrities flashing mega-watt grins, which unfortunately cause many people to feel self-conscious about their own smile.

The enamel covering the teeth can become stained over time for a number of reasons. The fix for this is teeth whitening, which is considered to be one of the easiest and most economical ways of enhancing the appeal of your smile.
 

Reasons for tooth discoloration

White teeth are universally considered to be more youthful due to the fact that infant/first teeth are almost always whiter than their adult counterparts.

Adult teeth can become stained or discolored over time due to:

• Smoking – one of the biggest contributors to yellowed teeth!

• The use of antibiotics as a child/teenager

• Exposure to high levels of fluoride

• Food or drinks that contain tannins such as oranges,
  carrots, red wine, and coffee

• Trauma to the tooth

• Decay

• Damage to nerve or blood vessels inside the root canal

• Genetics – the thickness of the enamel covering your teeth is usually determined by genetics. Thinner enamel can often show the color of the dentin beneath it, giving the tooth a darker appearance.

• Aging – our teeth naturally darken as we get older

Custom Bleaching Trays

We fabricate custom bleaching trays from models of your teeth. Your whitening procedure would begin with a consultation where we discuss expectations of how much lighter your teeth could be, take intial shade measurements, and take impressions of your mouth to create custom fit bleach trays to enable 100% coverage of the whitening gel. At a follow up visit, often as soon as the next day, we deliver the trays and gel. After that, you are free to whiten your teeth at your own pace, scheduling periodic shade checks to monitor progress.

There are two main types of tooth whitening performed in most offices.

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Vital Whitening

The most common variety of teeth whitening is called vital whitening which is performed on teeth with current active nerves and involves whitening the tooth on the outside only.

The whitening product is usually a gel that contains a form of hydrogen peroxide and is applied directly on to the surface of the tooth.

Over several applications, the hydrogen peroxide gel breaks down external and internal enamel pigment, lightening the appearance of the tooth while maintaining tooth strength and integrity

Non-Vital Whitening

Non-vital whitening is most commonly used in teeth that are stained from the inside out, usually as a result of damage to the interior nerves.

In non-vital whitening, your dentist will place the whitening agent inside the tooth and cover it with a temporary filling. Again, you may require multiple treatments in order to achieve the extent of whitening that you desire. 
 

Risks of Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is a very safe procedure and is unlikely to cause serious side effects. However, you may find that your gums and teeth are a little more sensitive for a short time after the procedure. Careful application of the whitening gel, avoiding touching your gums, will alleviate this sensitivity.
Please discuss any concerns you may have with us at the time of your consultation.

Longevity of results

Unfortunately, teeth whitening is not a one-off procedure, but the speed with which the whiteness will fade will vary depending on a range of factors including whether or not you smoke and if you consume a lot of stain-causing foods and drinks. If these are regular habits for you, then you could see the whiteness begin to fade in as little as six weeks after your procedure. However, if you avoid stain-inducing activities and maintain a rigorous oral care regime, then you may not require another round of teeth whitening sessions for six to twelve months after your initial treatment. With your custom bleach trays, touching up your whitening is as easy as applying another round of gel in your own time.