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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Bleaching (Tooth Whitening)
Your smile is the first thing other people notice about you ...
it says more about you than any other physical feature
Tooth bleaching safely lightens the color of your teenager or young adult's teeth and can last for up to five years. The most effective way of whitening teeth is under a dentist supervised method - whether through the use of in office bleaching or take home trays. First, the dentist must evaluate your child's teeth to decide whether or not your child would be a good candidate. Bleaching works by using a carbamide peroxide agent to bleach out the porous surfaces of the tooth enamel. Bleaching does not effectively whiten everyone's teeth and may not work for teeth which have been intrinsically affected by tetracycline stain. Extrinsic stain such as coffee, tea, or other food coloring can easily be bleached and whitened. After in office bleaching, our office provides personalized bleaching trays which are worn at home to continue the process. The customized at home bleaching trays are used to maintain the whiteness of the teeth between in office procedures. Or we can use these customized bleaching trays exclusively for teeth whitening at home. In office bleaching is much faster with a much more dramatic effect on your child's teeth. At home tray bleaching may take up to several weeks to show similar results for his/her teeth.
Several studies during the past five years have proven bleaching to be safe and effective for teenagers and young adults with developing teeth when done under the strict supervision of a dentist. Some patients have temporary tooth and gum sensitivity. These symptoms usually disappear within 1-3 days after completion of the bleaching process. The dosage (strength of the bleaching material) and the duration (amount of time that the carbamide peroxide solution is applied) needs to be strictly controlled in teenagers and young adults. Over the counter teeth whitening kits can cause severe problems such as irritation of the gums and surrounding soft tissue and can wear away the tooth enamel on your child's teeth due to the fact that these solutions have a very high acid content. The carbamide peroxide used in our office is manufactured by high quality dental manufacturers and contains desensitizers in the whitening gel.
Who is a candidate? Teenagers and young adults with yellow or discolored teeth, and those who want brighter teeth. However, the key is to have a realistic expectation before starting the process. Every person is different, with different habits and teeth.
Click here for more information on bleaching and our Questions and Answers Concerning Teeth Whitening and Bleaching.
Disclaimer
Doctor Haeberlein, Dr. Wang and the other Doctors in the Discovery Dental Group make no warranties, expressed or implied, as to any results to be obtained from use of the information "What should I do in a Dental Emergency." We cannot diagnose or treat patients over the Internet. Information on this site is for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for personal, medical, and/or dental attention or diagnosis. Without all available information about a patient, it is impossible to make a diagnosis. Help and answers are in the form of general ideas. Only you, your dentist, and other necessary and qualified health care providers can make an appropriate treatment decision in an emergency or for everyday care and dental treatment.
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