WHITENING TEETH

Unfortunately, nature plays her tricks over the years as she slowly darkens our enamel. Wouldn't it be better if our hair got darker, and our teeth got whiter?

One of the most exciting procedures provided today! It is possible to whiten and brighten up your smile either during the day or while you sleep. Impressions are taken of your teeth, custom trays are fabricated and the whitening gel is placed into the trays. The usual length of time required is 10 to 15 days.

The History of Tooth Whitening-

Esthetic dentistry was popular as far back as the late 1800's in this country. It was very popular to alter the shape of the front teeth as well as attempting to lighten them.

Carbamide peroxides were first used in the 1960's as an anti-inflammatory medicament - especially for periodontal and orthodontic therapy patients. During this period, some patients were found to have whitened areas appearing on their teeth. The research by one dentist was generally overlooked for almost 2 decades. Finally, the original study of carbamide peroxide was "rediscovered" and we now have the whitening systems of today.

FAQs

Q - How does whitening occur?
A - It is hypothesized that the pigments in the tooth are oxidized.

Q- How long does it take to work?
A- Anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. When dealing with extreme stains, there are cases that have taken months to complete.

Q-What are the active ingredients?
A-Carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide.

Q-Can the trays be seen when I wear them?
A-No, they adapt to the teeth very closely and are completely clear.

Q- Are there any problems associated with whitening?
A- Some people get some sensitivity in their teeth. This can be handled with desensitizers or changing from the usual tray wearing regimen.

Q- How long does the whitening last?
A- Studies show a retention of approximately 84% at the end of 3 years.

Q- Can I continue to use the whitening gel in the future.
A- It is not usually required - BUT - it is possible to "touch-up" the color by occasionally using the tray and gel for one or two treatments.

Facts Concerning Tooth Whitening -

• Safety - There are more than 700 published articles that attest to the safety and nontoxicity of whitening systems, when administered by qualified dentists.
• Predictability - More that 90% of patients will show significant discoloration.
• Over-the-counter (OTC) whitening systems - Most kits have acetic or citric acid as their active ingredients. These can cause significant structural damage to the enamel when used for extended periods. Other types of OTC products have abrasives that will remove surface stains and make the teeth look whiter - the problem with these is that they also remove a small amount of enamel due to their abrasiveness.
• Active ingredients - We use a whitening solution of carbamide peroxide/hydrogen peroxide (between 15 and 25 percent strength).

This is a whitening tray being          loaded with the whitening gel.