Teeth Whitening & Bleaching in Puyallup & Sumner, WA
Also serving Federal Way, Tacoma, Sumner, Milton, Graham, and Auburn, WA.
The
Everybody loves a bright white
smile, and there are a variety of products and procedures available
to help you improve the look of yours.
Many people are satisfied with the sparkle they get from brushing
twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, flossing once a day, and
regular cleanings at the dentist's office. However, if you decide
you would like to go beyond regular care to make your smile look
brighter, you should investigate all of your options.
Schedule a visit with your dentist to learn whether whitening
procedures would be effective for you. Whiteners do not correct
all types of discoloration. For example, yellowish teeth will
probably bleach well, brownish teeth may bleach less well, and
grayish teeth may not bleach well at all. Likewise, whitening
may not enhance your smile if you have had tooth-colored fillings
or crowns. The whitener will not affect the color of these materials
and they will stand out in your newly whitened smile. In these
cases, you do have other options such as porcelain veneers.
- Professional teeth whitening with your doctor
- At-home whitening system
- Whitening toothpaste
When selecting a whitener or any dental product, be sure to
look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance — your assurance that
a product has met ADA standards of safety and effectiveness.
Professional teeth whitening by your doctor is your best choice
when you need immediate whitening results. This procedure is
called chair-side bleaching and may require more than one office
visit. Each visit may take from sixty to ninety minutes.
During chair-side bleaching, the dentist will apply either a
protective gel to your gums or a rubber shield to protect the
oral soft tissues. A bleaching agent is then applied to the teeth,
and a special light may be used to enhance the action of the
agent.
There are several types of products available for use at home,
which can either be dispensed by your doctor or purchased over
the counter. They are generally teeth whitening trays (mouthguards),
strips, or paint-on products.
These products contain peroxide(s), which actually bleach the
tooth enamel. Carbamide peroxide is the bleaching agent and comes
in several different concentrations (10%, 16%, and 22%). Peroxide-containing
whiteners typically come in a gel and are placed in a mouthguard.
Usage regimens vary. Some products are used twice a day for 2
weeks, and others are intended for overnight use for 1-2 weeks.
If you obtain the bleaching solution from your doctor’s
office, they can make a custom-fitted mouthguard for you that
will fit your teeth precisely. Currently, only dentist-dispensed,
home-use, 10% carbamide peroxide tray-applied gels carry the
ADA Seal.
Teeth whitening strips are thin, flexible plastic (polyethylene)
strips with a thin film of hydrogen peroxide bleaching on one
side. Whitening strip kits come with two types of strips: strips
for the upper teeth and strips for the lower teeth. The bleaching
agent is applied by placing the strips across your teeth and
gently pressing the strips into place to insure contact with
all your teeth. Teeth whitening strips are typically worn for
30 minutes a day, twice a day. The duration of treatment will
vary.
Paint-on teeth whitening allows you to apply a bleaching agent
directly to your teeth without an appliance or strip. You simply “paint” the
whitener onto the surface of clean, dry teeth and wait about
30 minutes while the paint turns to a dry film. To remove this
film, you simply brush your teeth with a toothbrush. Paint-on
whitening products require twice-daily applications to be effective.
The duration of treatment will vary. An advantage in this process
is that you can selectively paint individual teeth.
Teeth whitening can have minor side-effects and you should speak
with your doctor if these become bothersome. For example, teeth
can become sensitive during the period when you are using the
bleaching solution. In most cases, this sensitivity is temporary
and should lessen once the treatment is finished. Some people
also experience soft tissue irritation, either from a tray that
doesn't fit properly or from solution that may come in contact
with the tissues. If you have concerns about such side effects,
you should discuss them with the doctor.
All toothpastes help remove surface stain from your teeth through
the action of mild abrasives. "Whitening" toothpastes
in the ADA Seal of Acceptance program have special chemical or
polishing agents that provide additional stain removal effectiveness.
Unlike bleaches, these ADA Accepted products do not alter the
intrinsic color of teeth. |
