People with stained or discolored teeth may simply need a whitening procedure to restore their brilliant smile. Teeth whitening is a safe and effective way to brighten stained, discolored or dull teeth. Even a stubborn single tooth that is noticeably duller or less white than your other teeth can be individually brightened. Teeth bleaching products, which contain peroxides, actually change your natural tooth color anywhere from five to seven -- but even up to 12 -- shades brighter. You too can have the white smile you have always dreamed of!

How does whitening work?

Tooth whitening involves the use of peroxide-based materials to whiten teeth. At Cosmetic Family Implant Dentistry, we offer both in-office and at-home solutions. Before tooth whitening, the patient must get all cavities filled and have healthy gums. The in-office systems use 35% hydrogen peroxide gels coupled with a high intensity light to whiten the teeth. The gums are protected and gels are placed on the teeth. A laser or plasma arc light source activates the peroxide to oxidize stains on the tooth surface. In about an hour, the teeth become four to six shades lighter.

At-home systems most often use 10 to 20% carbamine peroxide gels to oxidize stains. The dentist makes impressions (molds) of the mouth, and then has soft mouth trays made. The patient is fitted with the trays and is instructed to place a thin ribbon of the gel into the tray for wear while sleeping. Most whitening results appear in one to two weeks. In difficult cases, trays may need to be worn for up to six weeks.

But I can buy whitening systems at the store...

Store-bought bleaching systems are not as effective as dentist-managed systems. Unsupervised use of store-bought bleaching systems can cause painful sensitivity to untreated dental cavities. The mouth trays are not custom made, which can cause gum irritation, and the peroxides are not as strong or effective.