Smile Whitening Basics

Short Description of Procedure:

Over time, teeth gradually yellow in color. If you drink coffee, tea or red wine, or if you smoke, your teeth will become even more stained and discolored.

With today's variety of smile whitening methods and technologies, your smile can easily be whitened in a number of ways.

At this time there are two options for smile whitening: at-home whitening systems that use trays and prescription whitening gel or in-office, instant whitening that use light-activated gel to brighten teeth.

How It's Done

At-Home Whitening
At-home or take-home whitening is accomplished by wearing custom-made trays filled with prescription whitening gel for several hours at a time for at least three days.

Patients are scheduled for a tray fitting where impressions or molds of the upper and lower teeth are taken. From these impressions, custom trays for the teeth are formed.

At the next appointment, the trays are delivered, and tested for proper fit. The dentist then shows the patient how to apply the prescription-quality whitening gel into the trays. The trays are extremely thin, virtually invisible and can be worn during the day or night. The results are long lasting, and the smiles are quickly brightened in a three to five days.

In-Office Whitening
There are several in-office whitening systems on the market.

Zoom!^tm Whitening
Once the patient is seated comfortably, the doctor places a retractor in the mouth to pull the lips away from the teeth. The Zoom!^tm whitening gel is then applied to the teeth. A bright light is then shone on the teeth for an hour. The gel is activated by the light, causing the teeth to whiten.

BriteSmile
The BriteSmile Professional Teeth Whitening treatment consists of a gentle hydrogen-peroxide whitening gel activated by a special, patented light operating in the gentle "blue spectrum." The patented BriteSmile light is a gentle, blue light that is wavelength matched to the whitening gel to effectively whiten and brighten teeth in just about an hour.

Rembrandt
In less than an hour, a Rembrandt One-Hour Whitening dentist can whiten teeth up to 10 shades, using the newest breakthrough in power light bleaching. Participating dentists use Rembrandt Virtuoso Lightning(TM) Bleaching Gel with the Rembrandt Sapphire(TM) Light, a highly advanced power curing light. The visit provides patients with all the elements necessary to protect against renewed stains, yellowing or dulling.

Technology:

There is no technology associated with take home whitening. In-office whitening systems use proprietary technology, but all operate on similar principles of light activated whitening.

Recovery/Post-op Expectations:

Some people who undergo in-office whitening may experience some sensitivity in their teeth. This sensitivity should be gone within 1-2 days. Sensitivity from at home whitening will dissipate after a 1-2 day rest between whitening applications.

Complications:

There are no known complications associated with smile whitening.

Am I a Candidate?

If you have teeth that are stained, yellowed or discolored due to age, drinking coffee, tea, red wine or cola, you are an ideal candidate to have your smile whitened up to 9-10 shades brighter.

If your teeth are stained due to smoking or are gray as a result of taking certain medications, you might experience less significant whitening.

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