In-Office Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is a process that helps to make teeth look whiter. The procedure uses bleaching and non-bleaching whitening products. As dentists, we will recommend the best whitening option for you. Unlike over the counter whitening option, we supervise the whole procedure to ensure there are no complications.
Types of Stains
Intrinsic Stains
Intrinsic stains are characterized by brown, yellow, or gray color caused by demineralization and fluorosis. The stains are located on the dentin and can be lightened by chemical bleaching or mechanical removal. Since whitening treatments cannot lighten these stains, the best method is crowns or bonding.
Extrinsic stains
Extrinsic stains are located on the enamel and likely to occur due to poor oral hygiene habits. The staining agent does not adhere to the tooth surface; instead, plaque incorporates the stains. Extrinsic stains can be brown, green, yellow, black, or orange. These stains are relatively easy to remove.
Age-Related Stains
Usually, these stains are caused by enamel getting thin and darkening dentin. The treatment must clean deep inside the dentin to get rid of the stains.
The Procedure
Typically, it takes about one hour to perform professional teeth whitening procedures. The process involves applying whitening gel on a tooth. The gel contains 25 % to 40 % hydrogen peroxide. A heating lamp or laser is aimed at the teeth for 20 minutes intervals. During the heating procedure, a protective barrier is used to protect the gums and tongue from the gel.