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How should I ask my dentist about teeth whitening?
Start by speaking with your dentist and he/she can tell you if
whitening procedure are the right choice for you. Whiteners don't
fix all types of discoloration. In fact, yellow shaded teeth bleach
well compared to brown colored teeth. Even more, grayish-hued teeth
may not color well at all. Bleaching may not enhance your smile if
you have bonding or tooth colored fillings on your front teeth.
Whitener does not effect the material, but it will stand out
compared to your other teeth. In this case, you might want to try
other options, like porcelain veneers or even dental bonding.
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 chair side bleaching and may require more than one office
visit. Each visit may take from 30 minutes to one hour.
During chair side 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.
A number of in-office bleaching agents have the ADA Seal of
Acceptance, your assurance that they have met ADA standards of
safety and effectiveness.
Lasers have been used during tooth whitening procedures to
enhance the action of the whitening agent. No whitening products
using lasers currently are on the ADA list of Accepted products.
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.
How should I choose a whitening product?
When you choose a whitener, or any dental product, look for the
ADA seal of approval. Products that have met the ADA standards are
safety and effective.
Is teeth whitening really safe?
Definitely. Teeth whitening treatments by dental offices have
been used for years. Dental offices have proved that they are indeed
safe. Home application is also safe if directions are followed. If
problems occur such as teeth sensitivity or gum irritation, the use
should be reduced from everyday to every other day. The majority of
people experience mild to moderate pain of sensitivity, but it
normally goes away after treatment is completed.
How does the whitening treatment work?
A moldable "tray" or mouthpiece is submerged into hot water for 5
seconds until soft and a bite impression is taken. After shaping the
trays for upper and lower teeth, the whitening gel, which contains
active ingredient Carbamide Peroxide, is applied to individual trays
and inserted into the mouth and over the teeth. One tray at a time
is left in place for 20-30 minutes.
Extending treatment times for faster whitening may be alright if
your teeth are not over-sensitive. As the gel is activated, a slight
tingling or bubbling sensation may be felt, which is the oxidation
process taking place. Treatment should be done on upper and lower
teeth each day until desired whitening is achieved. Twice a day
treatments may also, achieve faster whitening results if teeth and
gum sensitivity is not apparent.
What occurs during whitening?
During the teeth whitening process, the active ingredient in the
gel, Carbamide Peroxide, is broken down and oxygen enters the tooth
enamel bleaching embedded discolored substances (stains). The
structure of the tooth is not changed; only the tooth enamel becomes
a lighter and whiter shade. Fillings, crowns, bridges and bondings,
etc. are not affected.
What is Carbamide Peroxide?
Carbamide Peroxide is the primary active ingredient or bleaching
agent in the professional teeth whitening gel. It is essentially a
variation of Hydrogen Peroxide and combined with the unique
adherence properties of the specially formulated gel, it provides
the chemical reaction required to safely whiten your teeth.
The Clinical Pharmacology Classification of Carbamide Peroxide
states that there are "No significant interactions", although some
teeth sensitivity or minor gum irritation may be experienced, which
normally subsides after completion of treatment.
How long will it take until my teeth are whiter?
Whitening results often become apparent during the first few
treatments, but typically a noticeable whitening effect becomes
evident after about 8-10 treatments. Teeth will continue to whiten
with each successive treatment until desired results are achieved.
Results vary, but in our experience backed by studies, show that
90 to 95% of people experience some level of whitening.
How long do results last?
Results are long lasting for many people, but if there is
exposure to coffee, tea, tobacco, wine and other stain producers, it
will darken over time.
After initial treatment, some people do touch-ups every 6-8
months based on the amount of stain producing substances that they
are exposed to. The ProWhiteSmile Whitening System is not a
"supermarket" type tooth whitening kit and is considerably stronger
than most "As Seen On TV" type kits.
The active ingredient in the whitening gel, Carbamide Peroxide is
in Professional Dental Office strength (23%) and our massive 10cc
syringes give up to 40 individual tray treatments. 3 times the
amount of most syringe type kits sold at higher prices.
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