How Can You Brighten Your Smile?   

Your wedding is coming up and you want your smile to be its brightest. Or maybe you have an important speaking engagement. Whatever the reason, tooth bleaching isn't just for the movie stars, and it isn't just for one day. Many people have had their teeth bleached, and probably millions more are thinking about it. The desire for a brighter smile with whiter teeth is very strong, and tooth bleaching safely lightens the color of the teeth, lasting for up to five years. The most effective and safest method of tooth bleaching is dentist-supervised.

What are your options?

At our office, we offer 2 ways to whiten your teeth.

1.  For fast results, we offer our in office 1-hour laser teeth whitening. You may be aware of this technique, for example ZOOM! bleaching, as seen on TV. Along with the 1 hour treatment, we also provide you with a free take home whitening set, including the custom trays and gel needed to maintain your new bright smile.

2. For those of you that want the convenience of whitening your teeth at home at your leisure, we offer the popular Nite-White home bleaching kit. Custom trays are made and the whitening kit is provided for you to start the whitening process at your convenience.

Is bleaching for you?

Generally, whitening is successful in at least 90 percent of patients, though it may not be an option for everyone. Consider tooth whitening if your teeth are darkened from age, coffee, tea or smoking. Teeth darkened with the color of yellow, brown or orange respond better to lightening. Other types of gray stains caused by fluorosis or tetracycline are lightened, but results are not as dramatic. If you have periodontal disease or existing cavities, Dr. Bostani may discourage whitening until these issues are resolved.

What's involved?

First, Dr. Bostani will determine whether you are a candidate for tooth bleaching and what type of bleaching system would provide the best results.

Some home bleaching systems recommend bleaching your teeth from two to four hours a day. Generally this type of system requires two to three weeks to complete, and works best on patients with sensitive teeth. Other systems recommend bleaching at night while you sleep. This type of system usually requires only 10-14 days to complete.

How long does it last?

Lightness should last from one to five years, depending on your personal habits such as smoking and drinking coffee and tea. At this point you may choose to get a touch up. This procedure may not be as costly because you can probably still use the same custom tray. The retreatment time also is much shorter than the original treatment time.

How does it work?

The active ingredient in most of the whitening agents is 10-16 percent carbamide peroxide (CH4N2O2), also known as urea peroxide; when water contacts this white crystal, the release of hydrogen peroxide lightens the teeth.

Is it safe? Any side effects?

Several studies, during the past five years, have proven bleaching to be safe and effective. The American Dental Association has granted its seal of approval to some tooth bleaching products. Some patients may experience slight gum irritation or tooth sensitivity, which will resolve when the treatment ends.

What are realistic expectations?

No one can really predict how much lighter your teeth will become. Every case is different. Typically, there is a two to six shade improvement as seen on a dentist's shade guide. The success rate and the time it takes depends upon the type of stain involved and your compliance.  Bleaching does not lighten artificial materials such as resins, silicants, or porcelains.