What is Bleaching?
Bleaching is a process that removes stain and discoloration from the teeth. The bleaching agent can be applied by a dentist at a dental visit, or self applied at home. Due to the safety and simplicity (not to mention the lesser cost) of the procedure, I prefer the self applied method of delivery, and all the information that follows pertains to that technique.
Why are some teeth more yellow than others?
Besides the obvious answer about mother nature and everybody is different, the most common causes of yellow teeth include stains such as coffee, tea, cola, tobacco, aging, tetracycline taken as a child, too much fluoride(fluorosis) in the drinking water as a child, trauma to the teeth, etc...
Can anybody whiten his or her teeth?
Almost everybody can have their teeth whitened, but in some cases, bleaching may not be
very effective. Your dentist can determine whether you could benefit from bleaching or not.
Is bleaching safe?
The self applied method of bleaching That I recommend uses a chemical called carbamide peroxide which has been used in the mouth for a very long time and is very safe, and is the method used by most dentists for their patients that request bleaching. (The procedure should not be used by pregnant or lactating mothers since no testing or research has been done with that group of patients).
Can you describe the bleaching process?
Gladly. The dentist takes an impression of your upper and lower teeth and makes stone models of
your mouth. On those models he makes a soft tray that covers your teeth and is used to carry
the bleaching gel and keep it in contact with the tooth surface. He then gives you the trays,
the bleaching gel and instructions. You are then supposed to place the tray with the gel in
the mouth for a few hours every day and, in about a week, your teeth should be as white as
they can get in your particular case, then you use the gel only occasionaly when you think
you need a little whitening or to maintain what you have achieved.
Where can you get the bleaching products?
You can get the bleaching systems over the counter at some stores, but you will not
get the best results from these(they require that you boil the tray material and mold it in your mouth). The dentist makes a custom fitted tray with a small space around the teeth so the gel stays in the right place and is effective for a longer period of time.
Does my insurance pay for bleaching?
Unfortunalely, no. Insurance does not pay for bleaching.
If you have any other questions, please call our office and take advantage of our website offer:
Free Bleaching system (for new patients only)
When they pay for an exam, xrays and cleaning.
Call (561) 968 6022
