Bleaching Print E-mail

Tooth color varies from person to person - just like skin and hair color. There are a number of ways that teeth can be made to look whiter.

Professional tooth bleaching
There are several different ways that dentists can bleach your teeth. These are separated into external techniques (where the bleach is placed outside of the tooth) and internal techniques (where the bleach is placed inside the tooth). They are described in more detail below.

External bleaching
This means that the color of the teeth is lightened by placing a bleaching gel on the outer (external) surfaces of the teeth. Once again, using bleaching gels in this way may not work for certain types of discoloration, such as that caused by metal fillings or damaged blood vessels inside a tooth. There are two ways to do external bleaching.

Home Bleaching
We will fabricate bleaching trays that fit precisely to your teeth.  The bleaching gel that we prescribe is stronger than over the counter gels and will be more effective in bleaching your teeth. You will need to wear the mouth-guards for a few hours each day. It may take a few weeks to achieve the color that you want.

In Office Bleaching
this is also known as laser or power bleaching. The bleach used in this procedure is very powerful and the most important part of the procedure is protecting your gum tissue.  The bleaching gel is then painted onto your teeth and a special, bright light is pointed at them. The entire procedure takes about two hours.

The whitening effects of different bleaching methods can last for a few years, but this varies from person to person. Your eating, drinking, smoking and tooth-brushing habits may have an effect on how long the treatment lasts.
It's important to bear in mind that bleaching doesn't always result in the whiteness that you expected. The results vary from person to person and depend on the shade of your teeth before bleaching. For this reason, it is important to discuss all the possible options for improving the appearance of your teeth with your dentist before you make a decision.