|
Talk to 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 effect
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.
Back to top
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.
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.
Back to top
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 irritationóeither from a tray that doesnít 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. Some "whitening" toothpastes have special
chemical or polishing agents that provide additional stain removal
effectiveness. Unlike bleaches, these products do not alter the
intrinsic color of teeth.
Back to top
What is BriteSmile?
The BriteSmile "blue-light" technology combined with a proprietary new, wavelength-specific gentle bleaching gel, has created a revolutionary method of teeth whitening which quickly, safely and effectively whitens all teeth at once.
The BriteSmile technology was developed by a team led by Dr. John Warner, a former NASA scientist and a member of the Hubble Space Telescope development program. Brite Smile's whitening results confirm an average of 8+ shades whiter and even higher for individuals with darker teeth.
Back to top
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.
Back to top
|
