Teeth Whitening
Even for those who have healthy, cavity-free teeth, there is a certain extra appeal to a whiter, brighter smile. Drinking coffee or wine, smoking cigarettes, taking certain medications, or merely getting older can cause our teeth to stain over time. If you’re looking for whiter teeth, there are options and factors to consider for bleaching yellow, stained teeth. Bleaching products contain peroxide (hydrogen or carbamide), which removes stains on the surface and under the surface of teeth.
FAST IN-OFFICE PROFESSIONAL WHITENING
Some professional teeth bleaching can be done in under an hour at our Edmond dental office. Dr. Jamie Talley will apply a whitening gel to the teeth followed by shining a special heat lamp on the teeth. This process is repeated multiple times.
​
AT-HOME WHITENING TRAYS
Another option is a dentist-supervised, at home bleaching treatment that are better at whitening than over-the-counter alternatives. In this process, a mold of your teeth is taken in order to produce trays to fit your teeth perfectly. This increases the contact between the bleaching product and your teeth and also makes contact between your gum tissue and the bleaching product minimal, avoiding unnecessary irritation to your gums and increasing the ability to make contact with your teeth. Dr. Talley will give you instructions on how, how often, and how long to apply the trays at home.
Depending on your situation, some systems include overnight wear for approximately 4 weeks while other teeth whitening systems are applied for only 1 or 2 hours daily for the same 4-week period. It is important to follow the instructions Dr. Talley gives to prevent damage to your gums or soft tissue and to get the best results. Dr. Talley will also check on your gum health at intermittent appointments during your treatment and ensure your trays are fitting you properly.
Everyone has seen advertising for at-home teeth whitening kits. Despite the comparatively low cost of these at-home kits, there are advantages to having this process done professionally. One advantage is time. Most at home teeth whitening treatments contain far less of the whitening agent than those used by dental professionals. Because of this, the process can take weeks or months longer to take full effect compared to professional teeth whitening.
In addition, having Dr. Talley oversee this process can save you from dental expenses later by evaluating your teeth before the process begins to determine if your current oral health permits this type of treatment. Dr. Talley’s oversight can also prevent damage to your gums and ensure that you receive the best results possible from your teeth whitening treatment.
The benefits of teeth whitening are fairly intuitive: whiter teeth, of course! The risks, however, might not be quite so obvious. Bleaching products can irritate gums, causing redness and swelling. This is why it is important to minimize contact between these areas and the bleaching gels. However, as Dr. Talley observes your teeth and mouth during the process, she can spot any problems like this quickly and intervene to prevent further irritation. Of course, any allergies to ingredients in the bleaching products can cause reactions as well.
If you have had any previous reactions to products with peroxides, glycerin, carbopol, or sodium hydroxide, you should let Dr. Talley know. PubMed Central confirmed the idea that effects on teeth such as softening of enamel or long term sensitivity are caused by aggressive in office treatments with very high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. If you are concerned about these possible side effects, talk with Dr. Talley about treatment options and their risks and benefits before deciding on a method.
Although professional teeth whitening is considered safe and effective for most patients, some patients may not be good candidates for teeth whitening treatments.
Teeth that are discolored because of injury or because of medication use will probably not whiten, even through professional treatments. Synthetic material found in dental implants, veneers, crowns, caps, or fillings do not respond well to teeth whitening products, either. In addition, patients who have sensitive teeth, grind their teeth, have worn enamel or jaw conditions like TMJ may find that these conditions worsen after teeth whitening. These patients should be sure to consult with Dr. Talley before moving forward with whitening procedures.
At Talley Dental in Edmond, dentist Jamie Talley, DDS, and her team believe in honest, trustworthy dentistry and will provide you with an accurate evaluation of your oral health and whether or not teeth whitening is recommended. For more information and research about teeth whitening, you may reference the article below:
