Advancements in Whitening Teeth

By Dennis Nagata, D.D.S.

Recent exciting advancements in tooth whitening, also called "bleaching", have provided patients with several options to improve the color of their teeth. Bleaching will lighten teeth and the degree of lightening varies with the individual. Teeth that tend to be yellow in color are the easiest to lighten and give the best results. Darker teeth may need more time to lighten but virtually all cases involving bleaching can have positive results much to the delight of our patients. Understanding the alternatives in tooth whitening will give you the best results possible.

Listed are a variety of alternatives in tooth whitening technology. These methods may be utilized individually or in combination, depending upon the requirements of the patient. If you would like to try whitening your teeth with the new products, ask your dentist if you are a qualified patient.

BriteSmile

Our office is one of 1500 BriteSmile Associated Dental Centers across the United States. BriteSmile offers the most advanced state-of-the-art technology to whiten teeth and enormously enhance personal appearance and aesthetics.

The BriteSmile gas plasma light technology, combined with a proprietary new PH-balanced wavelength-specific gentle bleaching gel, has created a revolutionary whitening process.

The BriteSmile Plasma Light

The gel contains a proprietary photo-initiator, which assists in chromophore destruction at the tooth surface. What does this mean? In short, our gel is ready to be activated by our proprietary blue-light (also known as our plasma light technology), which shines on the gel and activates its natural teeth whitening compounds. The blue-light will only trigger the gel because it is specifically tuned to respond to certain wavelengths of light.

How does this happen? It is the same bleaching process by which objects are naturally whitened by sunlight but, thanks to the blue light and hydrogen peroxide, our whitening system allows our clients to leave in just over an hour with their teeth at their optimal whiteness, satisfaction guaranteed.

See more information about BriteSmile at http://britesmile.com/what/index.html

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Home Bleaching

Home bleaching, also called matrix bleaching is a safe and effective way to lighten teeth. The process utilizes a custom fitted mouth matrix or tray, which holds and bathes the teeth in a whitening solution. The American Dental Association has placed its seal of approval on several home-bleaching products validating their safety and effectiveness. As the active ingredient in the gel, Carbamide peroxide is broken down; oxygen enters the tooth and bleaches the internal color of the tooth. The structure of the tooth is not changed, only the tooth color become lighter. Average treatment takes about two weeks but results are visible in a matter of a few days. Light yellow and moderately yellow teeth respond well to home bleaching. Some people experience temporary increased tooth sensitivity to cold during the treatment. However, new formulations have virtually eliminated this problem. Once home bleaching is completed, the teeth will always be lighter than they were. However, some patients may need periodic re-whitening for one or two days with "touch-up" kits, once or twice a year, especially if they continue to use staining substances like caffeine or tobacco products.

Over the Counter Whitening Applications

Although there are many whitening agents sold over the counter, the best results are obtained by dentist-supervised programs with custom fitted trays. Bleaching will benefit those patients who have relatively straight teeth and want a brighter smile. If you have crowns or other restorations on the teeth to be bleached, these restorations will not whiten and will require replacement after the lightening is complete. If the alignment of the teeth is also a concern, there are other advanced treatment options such as bonding or veneers to help you achieve the smile you have always wanted.

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