Whitening your teeth using bleaching products can be very effective.  It is important to consult your dentist prior to bleaching your teeth so that you will be successful in achieving the results that you are hoping for.  Some teeth will not bleach as well as others and some teeth bleach better using different techniques.  We are often asked about over-the-counter bleaching products and I will tell you that some over-the-counter bleaching kits can be effective for individuals that desire only subtle changes.  Your teeth typically have to be very straight and have very little stain.  Understand that over the counter bleaching products have very limited bleaching capabilities.

We use the Vivastyle Plus Advanced Tooth Whitening System at our office.  This system requires us to take impressions of your teeth and pour stone models.  From there, we block out the necessary teeth with a material that provides room for a bleach reservoir on your teeth.  We then fabricate custom fit trays to fit over your teeth.  The purpose of making you custom bleach trays is to equally distribute the bleach over your teeth to ensure an even bleaching process.  The bleaching process takes about 10-14 days, wearing the trays overnight.  You will want to keep the trays and purchase additional bleach refills for touch-ups over time.  How often you bleach after the initial bleaching period is highly dependent on your oral habits and diet.  You should not have to bleach your teeth more than one time a year after the initial bleaching process, however. We also have found that the take home technique works very well for our patients because our patients typically have less sensitivity during the bleaching process.  In addition, you will have the advantage of using the same trays for bleaching touch-ups in the future. 

 

 

 

 

  

If you are looking for the "wow" factor after bleaching your teeth, then having your teeth professionally whitened is the way to go.  At our office, we take care in making sure that your are a good candidate for bleaching; i.e., you are free of pathology, gum disease, and decay.  It is important that your mouth is healthy prior to bleaching because it may lead to worsening conditions if any are present.

 

The picture on the right shows the poured stone models, blue block out material and the custom fit trays that are sucked down over the models after block out.  These trays are very thin, soft, and easy to wear.  They should be cleaned every morning when bleaching and stored in the case when you are not using them. 

 

Professionally bleaching your teeth is an inexpensive cosmetic procedure that will dramatically change your smile and appearance.  Having a whiter smile can give you more confidence and a lasting impression on people.  Please feel free to call our office for more information.