TEETH WHITENING

• Fluorosis (excessive fluoridation during tooth development)
• Normal wear of outer tooth layer
• Stained teeth due to medications (tetracycline, etc.)
• Yellow, brown stained teeth

This type of teeth whitening usually requires two visits. At the first appointment, impressions (molds) will be made of your teeth to fabricate custom, clear plastic, trays.

At your second appointment, you will try on the trays for proper fit, and adjustments will be made if necessary. The trays are worn with special whitening solution either twice a day for 30 minutes or overnight for a couple of weeks depending on the degree of staining and desired level of whitening. It is normal to experience tooth sensitivity during the time you are whitening your teeth, but it will subside shortly after you have stopped bleaching.

You will receive care instructions for your teeth and trays, and be encouraged to visit your dentist regularly to help maintain a beautiful, healthy, white smile.

• The best candidates for the BriteSmile® whitening procedure have strong, healthy teeth and gums. If gum disease is an issue, this needs to be treated prior to the gel application. Whitening treatment may not be a good option for patients with highly sensitive teeth, thinning teeth, or teeth that exhibit deep inorganic staining.

  BriteSmile® can effectively alleviate the following problems:

  • Staining caused by tobacco use
  • Staining caused by strong foods and drinks
  • Yellowing teeth caused by aging
  • Greying teeth (usually hereditary)
  • Organic staining

BriteSmile® elicits the best results on clean, healthy teeth. Therefore, a thorough cleaning is recommended prior to the treatment to rid the teeth of plaque, tartar, and rotting food particles. The dentist will always thoroughly examine the teeth while performing the cleaning to check for any fractures, inflammation, or decay. Photographs might also be taken of the teeth prior to the bleaching procedure. This makes “before and after” comparisons more evident.

Though the whitening procedure only takes an hour in the office, BriteSmile® toothpaste, dental trays, and a less concentrated version of the gel may be given for home use. BriteSmile® is long lasting and effective, but stains can quickly reappear on the teeth—particularly if tobacco is being used.

None of the steps in the BriteSmile® system should cause discomfort. The BriteSmile® gel only contains a 15% or 25% concentration of hydrogen peroxide, which means the teeth and gums should not feel uncomfortable. Many of the alternative whitening treatments contain a 35% or 50% concentration of hydrogen peroxide, which dehydrates teeth and causes them to become hypersensitive. BriteSmile® gel is balanced with water and glycerin which work together to hydrate the teeth. The bleaching gel is applied to the teeth for three twenty-minute intervals as follows:

• A retractor is placed inside the mouth to fully expose the teeth.
• A hardening resin is applied to the gums to prevent the bleaching gel from irritating them.
• The gel and blue light are applied to the teeth for twenty minutes.
• The dentist checks whitening progress.
• The gel is removed and then more gel is applied for another twenty minutes.
• The gel is again removed and then more gel is applied for an additional twenty minutes.
• The retractors are removed when the final gel application is complete.
• The mouth is rinsed and the new tooth color is measured immediately.

The teeth may look incredibly white immediately after treatment due to mild dehydration. The actual color of teeth will become apparent when the teeth have had 48 hours to rehydrate.

If you have any questions or concerns about BriteSmile® or other whitening treatments, please ask your dentist.

• Day White® utilizes proven technology to remove organic stains on the teeth and whiten yellowing dentin and enamel. Day White® has been created with the wearer in mind and comes in several flavors.

  Here are some advantages of the Day White® System:

  • Cost effective
  • Custom-fitted trays
  • Lower active ingredient concentration (means reduced sensitivity)
  • No radiation
  • Pleasant flavors in a viscous gel
  • Teeth whitened by as many as 14 shades
  • Two half hour treatments twice a day
  • Unchanged structure of teeth

It should be noted that Day White® should only be applied to healthy teeth. Patients who have tooth decay or gum disease need to have these conditions treated prior to applying the Day White® gel. Day White® may not remove inorganic or deep stains, so it is important to consult with the dentist to ensure that expectations are realistic, considering the current condition of the teeth.

• Once the gel is on the teeth, do not smoke, eat, or drink.
• Consult the dentist before ordering refills.
• Pregnant and lactating women should not use tooth-whitening products.

Day White® is a healthy way to whiten teeth. The combination of hydrogen peroxide and Amorphous Calcium Phosphate (ACP) enables any imperfections in the surface of the teeth to be filled while the bleaching is underway.

Day White® is available in two low concentrations (7.5% and 9.5%). Each syringe is filled with enough gel to treat the teeth three times daily, so the results are under the patient’s control.

To use Day White®, simply load the gel into the custom-made trays and apply to the teeth for up to 30 minutes twice daily. When the desired time expires, remove the trays and rinse the mouth. Be sure to thoroughly cleanse the trays after every application.

Whitening will occur gradually over the course of the Day White® treatment, and the end result will be a pearly white smile.

If you have any questions about Day White®, please ask your dentist.