Teeth Whitening
Is teeth whitening right for you?
It is important for you to be aware that other options exist and under certain circumstances might even be more optimal for your situation. These include
Some situations where tooth whitening may not be a suitable treatment option are
Limitations of teeth whitening
What to expect
In Office Whitening
The procedure generally takes 70-90 minutes. Initially we will polish and clean the teeth to ensure that the whitening gel's effect is not being blocked by plaque (if significant amounts of dental calculus are present it is advisable to have a scaling done first).
A protective barrier is placed at the gum line to protect the gums from the effects of the whitening gel and a cheek and lip retractor are placed to keep the other soft tissues away from the teeth during the whitening.
The gel is applied to the teeth for approximately 20 minutes during which a whitening light is applied to help accelerate the whitening process. This is usually repeated 3 times during the session.
At the end of the session the barriers and retractors are removed, a desensitizing gel or mousse is applied to the teeth.
Take Home Whitening
We will fabricate a set of custom fitted soft trays for you that will fit over your teeth. This will be issued to you together with the whitening material.
The whitening kit should be used directly after you have brushed your teeth thoroughly.
You should place a small amount of the whitening gel into the teeth molds in the custom trays and spread it evenly. Seat the tray using light biting pressure. This will spread the gel evenly over the surface of the teeth. If you have too much gel in the tray, some will escape and may irritate the gums if left for too long. You should use a piece of cotton or tissue to clear away any excess gel. If you still feel discomfort from the gums you should remove the tray, rinse thoroughly and place less gel.
The tray should be kept in place for 30-60 minutes and not longer. If you feel sensitivity in the teeth you should stop the procedure. This should be done once a day for about 4 weeks during active whitening. If you are using the take home kit as a maintenance kit, repeating the procedure for 2-3 days should be sufficient.
Potential Side Effects
Teeth sensitivity
This is a common side effect and while we have, in our office, designed our protocols to reduce this problem it cannot be ruled out during the procedure. The sensitivity (if it occurs) usually starts during the whitening procedure and will gradually subsides afterwards.
Gum / Soft tissue irritation
The whitening gel contains substances which can be irritating to the gum and soft tissues. During in-office whitening we apply a barrier and retractors to prevent this from occuring. The whitening trays you receive for take-home whitening kit serve the same function.
Nevertheless sometimes the gel still manages to get to the soft tissues.The irritation may result in white patches and burning sensation. These areas will recover gradually once the whitening gel is removed.
Allergic reactions
Allergic reactions to one or more of the substances in the whitening material is possible though very rare. This can manifest itself as redness, swelling of the tissues that came into contact with the material or systemic symptoms.
How long does the effect last
A frequently asked question is how long the whitening effect will last after the procedure. Our teeth have a natural tendency to yellow with age and to absorb colorants which will tend to discolor the teeth again.
Some sources have suggested that it can take 3-5 years for the teeth to return to their pre-whitening colour. There is considerable variation however and with some patients finding that the effect only lasts some months. A great deal depends on your aftercare. Factors that will help lengthen the whitening effect are
Factors that cause more rapid tarnishing of the teeth are
Post Teeth Whitening Instructions
It is important for you to be aware that other options exist and under certain circumstances might even be more optimal for your situation. These include
- Crowns/Bridges/Veneers
- Aesthetic Bonding
- Thoroughly polishing the teeth - if the discoloration is due to surface stains
Some situations where tooth whitening may not be a suitable treatment option are
- Restorations (fillings,crowns or veneers) on the front teeth
- Teeth with a lot of exposed dentine
- Teeth that are prone to sensitivity
Limitations of teeth whitening
- Teeth whitening usually will not "even out" the colour of your teeth if you have different coloured teeth or teeth that have uneven colour.
- Teeth whitening does not do anything for the shape of your teeth
- Teeth whitening does not change the colour of any restorations (crowns/fillings/etc) that you may have and these may have to be replaced if the colour mismatch is great
What to expect
In Office Whitening
The procedure generally takes 70-90 minutes. Initially we will polish and clean the teeth to ensure that the whitening gel's effect is not being blocked by plaque (if significant amounts of dental calculus are present it is advisable to have a scaling done first).
A protective barrier is placed at the gum line to protect the gums from the effects of the whitening gel and a cheek and lip retractor are placed to keep the other soft tissues away from the teeth during the whitening.
The gel is applied to the teeth for approximately 20 minutes during which a whitening light is applied to help accelerate the whitening process. This is usually repeated 3 times during the session.
At the end of the session the barriers and retractors are removed, a desensitizing gel or mousse is applied to the teeth.
Take Home Whitening
We will fabricate a set of custom fitted soft trays for you that will fit over your teeth. This will be issued to you together with the whitening material.
The whitening kit should be used directly after you have brushed your teeth thoroughly.
You should place a small amount of the whitening gel into the teeth molds in the custom trays and spread it evenly. Seat the tray using light biting pressure. This will spread the gel evenly over the surface of the teeth. If you have too much gel in the tray, some will escape and may irritate the gums if left for too long. You should use a piece of cotton or tissue to clear away any excess gel. If you still feel discomfort from the gums you should remove the tray, rinse thoroughly and place less gel.
The tray should be kept in place for 30-60 minutes and not longer. If you feel sensitivity in the teeth you should stop the procedure. This should be done once a day for about 4 weeks during active whitening. If you are using the take home kit as a maintenance kit, repeating the procedure for 2-3 days should be sufficient.
Potential Side Effects
Teeth sensitivity
This is a common side effect and while we have, in our office, designed our protocols to reduce this problem it cannot be ruled out during the procedure. The sensitivity (if it occurs) usually starts during the whitening procedure and will gradually subsides afterwards.
Gum / Soft tissue irritation
The whitening gel contains substances which can be irritating to the gum and soft tissues. During in-office whitening we apply a barrier and retractors to prevent this from occuring. The whitening trays you receive for take-home whitening kit serve the same function.
Nevertheless sometimes the gel still manages to get to the soft tissues.The irritation may result in white patches and burning sensation. These areas will recover gradually once the whitening gel is removed.
Allergic reactions
Allergic reactions to one or more of the substances in the whitening material is possible though very rare. This can manifest itself as redness, swelling of the tissues that came into contact with the material or systemic symptoms.
How long does the effect last
A frequently asked question is how long the whitening effect will last after the procedure. Our teeth have a natural tendency to yellow with age and to absorb colorants which will tend to discolor the teeth again.
Some sources have suggested that it can take 3-5 years for the teeth to return to their pre-whitening colour. There is considerable variation however and with some patients finding that the effect only lasts some months. A great deal depends on your aftercare. Factors that will help lengthen the whitening effect are
- good oral hygiene
- avoiding colorant foods and very acidic foods (which etch the tooth surface)
- use of a maintenance kit to upkeep the whitening
Factors that cause more rapid tarnishing of the teeth are
- consumption of any food/beverage that contains colorant
- smoking
- high sugar foods which encourage plaque buildup
Post Teeth Whitening Instructions