Tooth whitening
Q What Is Tooth Whitening?
A It’s actually a bleaching process that lightens discolorations of enamel and dentine. The system that we recommend uses a mild solution retained in a custom-fitted appliance that is worn over your teeth while you sleep. You may also use the system at other times as the custom-fitted tray is hardly visible and does not interfere with speech.
Q What Causes Tooth Discoloration?
A There are many causes. The most common are ageing, consumption of staining substances (coffee, tea, cola, tobacco), trauma, tetracycline staining, excessive fluoride, nerve degeneration and old restorations.
Q Who Can Benefit From Tooth Whitening?
A Almost everyone. However, there are some cases where the treatment may not be as effective. The tooth-lightening system is ideal for patients who have healthy, unrestored teeth and would like to have a whiter, brighter smile.
Q Is Tooth Whitening Safe?
A Research has indicated that whitening teeth with carbamide peroxide is safe for the teeth and gums under the supervision of a dentist. The custom-fitted trays isolate the solution to the part of the teeth that need to be bleached and keep contact with the gum tissue to a minimum. Indeed the process, as an adjunct, will kill many of the bacteria around the teeth that are associated with gum disease.
Q How Does It Work?
A The bleaching gel is placed in a thin custom-fitted tray that fits only over your teeth. As the active ingredient in the gel, carbamide peroxide, is broken down, oxygen enters the enamel and dentine and bleaches the coloured substances. The structure of the teeth is not changed; only the tooth is made lighter and whiter. Current restorations will be unaffected in both form and colour but any restorations that look unsightly can be replaced to look more aesthetically pleasing.
Q How Long Does It Take?
A Results are usually seen in the first night. Maximum results generally occur when the process is continued for 14 to 21 nights.
Q Are There Any Side Effects?
A Some people experience increased sensitivity to cold during the treatment. Others have reported temporary discomfort such as gum or tooth sensitivity. These symptoms ALWAYS disappear 1 to 3 days after interruption or completion of the treatment.
Q How Long Will Results Last?
A Your teeth will always be lighter than they were. However some patients may need periodic rebleaching or “touch-up” treatments for 1 or 2 nights every 6 to 12 months depending on what factors their teeth are subjected to on a daily basis. However, recent research has reported only a 10% reduction in shade over 5 years.
The treatment schedule
- A short appointment for impressions to construct the trays.
- Another short appointment to check the fit of the custom-fitted trays and be shown how to use the tooth-whitening agent.
- At home an increment of agent is placed on the inside of each tray, fairly evenly across the base. The tray is placed in the mouth over the appropriate teeth. Any excess that that comes out of the tray can then be wiped away with a tissue. You are then free to do as you wish apart from eat and drink as this may unseat the trays resulting in loss of the bleaching agent. The vast majority of patients will have no problems sleeping in the appliances as several hours wear will produce the best results.
- After the bleaching session the trays are removed and you can rinse your mouth free of any remnant material. If the teeth are sensitive use of Sensodyne toothpaste can help. Place some Sensodyne in your trays and wear them for half an hour and the sensitivity should disappear. If the teeth are very sensitive the treatments do not have to be done daily but may be spaced apart, this will not affect the overall result but just lengthen the time it will take to achieve the best effect.
