Teeth Whitening Treatment Options

Even if you avoid all the things that might stain your teeth (coffee, tea, red wine, cigarettes, highly acidic foods) - and let’s face it, few of us do - you still may not have the white smile of your dreams. There are other factors, such as antibiotic use (particularly having been given tetracycline as a child) and highly fluoridated water, over which we have little or no control. And, of course, our teeth can yellow naturally with age.

Fortunately, today’s marketplace offers a number of options for whitening your teeth. Whether you’re looking for a simple home-use tooth whitening product or a more effective dentist tooth whitening treatment, you’re bound to find a method that suits your needs - and your budget.

Home-use tooth whitener is extremely popular and easy to find. Most often, it comes in the form of toothpaste or gum, but whitening strips, polishes and gels are also available. These products contain abrasives to remove surface stains from teeth, and although they are generally considered safe when used as directed, they are limited in their effectiveness.

If your teeth are deeply stained, your best bet is probably to have your dentist whiten them. Dentist tooth whitening takes one of two forms: tooth bleaching or laser tooth whitening.

Tooth Bleaching

Bleaching is still perhaps the most popular method for whitening teeth. It is usually performed by a dentist or at least with a dentist’s supervision.

The fastest teeth bleaching method is an in-office treatment involving the application of a highly concentrated bleaching agent, which is then exposed to heat to activate its bleaching properties.

Alternatively, a teeth whitening gel may be administered via a mouth guard. This process is slower, so it may require several trips to the dentist’s office, or else it may be completed by the patient at his or her home with frequent monitoring by the dentist.

Laser Tooth Whitening

One of the newest whitening treatments, laser tooth whitening is quickly growing in popularity. This procedure is similar to in-office bleaching except that instead of heat, a high-intensity laser is used to activate the bleaching agents in the special whitening gel. Also, unlike bleaching, which can be performed by your regular dentist, laser tooth whitening is performed by a cosmetic dentist in his or her office.

The only side effect to laser tooth whitening is a possible temporary sensitivity to hot and cold. It is a more expensive process than bleaching, but it is the most effective at removing deep stains, and it is by far the fastest way to whiten your smile.

Veneer Whitening

Teeth whitening can be performed on both vital (healthy) and non-vital (dead, such as after a root canal) natural teeth. However, treatments will have little if any effect on manmade surfaces such as crowns and veneers. In fact, porcelain veneers are often used in lieu of whitening (or when whitening is insufficient) to create a whiter smile.

If you need a crown, veneer or other dental restoration, it is strongly recommended that you whiten your teeth first and then have the restoration made to match. If you already have a restoration and want to whiten your teeth, you may need to have the restoration redone, as well.

Consult your dentist about tooth whitening and work with him or her to find the best option for you. Even at-home and over-the-counter tooth whiteners should be used only with the knowledge, advice and support of your dentist.