Whitening

Everybody loves a bright white smile, and there are a variety of products and procedures available to help you improve the look of yours.

Many people are satisfied with the sparkle they get from brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, flossing once a day, and regular cleanings at the dentist's office. However, if you decide you would like to go beyond regular care to make your smile look brighter, you should investigate all of your options.

Finding the Best Treatment for You

Schedule a visit with Comfort Family Dental to learn whether whitening procedures would be effective for you. Whiteners do not correct all types of discoloration. For example, yellowish teeth will probably bleach well, brownish teeth may bleach less well, and grayish teeth may not bleach well at all. Likewise, whitening may not enhance your smile if you have had tooth-colored fillings or crowns. The whitener will not affect the color of these materials and they will stand out in your newly whitened smile. In these cases, you do have other options, such as porcelain veneers.

Tooth Whitening Treatments

Professional teeth whitening
At-home whitening system
Whitening toothpaste

When selecting a whitener or any dental product, be sure to look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance - your assurance that a product has met ADA standards of safety and effectiveness.

Professional Teeth Whitening

Professional teeth whitening is your best choice when you need immediate whitening results. This procedure is called chair-side bleaching and takes approximately ninety minutes.

During chair-side bleaching, the dental assistant will apply a protective gel to your gums. A bleaching agent is then applied to the teeth and a special light is used to enhance the action of the agent.

At-Home Whitening System

There are several types of products available for use at home which can either be dispensed by your doctor or purchased over the counter. They are generally teeth whitening trays (mouthguards) or strips.

Teeth Whitening Trays

These products contain peroxide that actually bleach the tooth enamel. We offer Colgate Visible White to our patients, which is a 9% hydrogen peroxide gel. This gel is placed in a custom made mouthguard that is worn for 30 minutes a day for 7 to 14 days.

Teeth Whitening Strips

Teeth whitening strips are thin, flexible plastic (polyethylene) strips with a thin film of hydrogen peroxide bleach on one side. Whitening strip kits come with two types of strips: strips for the upper teeth and strips for the lower teeth. The bleaching agent is applied by placing the strips across your teeth and gently pressing the strips into place to insure contact with all your teeth. Teeth whitening strips are typically worn for 30 minutes a day, twice a day. The duration of treatment will vary.

Teeth whitening can have minor side-effects and you should speak with Dr. Rick if these become bothersome. For example, teeth can become sensitive during the period when you are using the bleaching solution. In most 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 us.

Whitening Toothpaste

All toothpastes help remove surface stain from your teeth 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.