The Brighter Whiter Smile: Tooth Whitening

Nothing can dull your smile more than stain & discolouration. Although there are many different stain removers on the market, most of the over-the-counter products are a disappointment.

Q. What causes tooth discolouration?

  • Aging
  • Coffee, tea, cola, tobacco
  • Tooth Decay
  • Old fillings

Some of these stains can be removed by regular dental care, including professional scaling & polishing. The others are harder to remove as they are trapped inside the tooth surface. The only way to beat these stains is with professional whitening.

Q. What is tooth whitening?
A. It's really a safe bleaching process that lightens yellowing of enamel and dentin. The system uses a mild gel that is placed in a thin custom-fitted tray worn over your teeth. You can whiten your teeth comfortably & effectively in private, while you sleep or during the day. The gel penetrates the tooth, dissolves the yellow stain molecules, leaving the tooth structure intact & lightening the tooth colour.

Q. Is it safe?
A. YES! Clinical studies show that whitening teeth under the supervision of a dentist is safe for teeth & gums. In fact, many dentists consider this whitening process the safest cosmetic dental procedure available today.


Stains due to aging - before
After whitening

Stains due to smoking - before
After whitening

 

Q. Are there any side effects?
A. Some people experience increased tooth sensitivity to cold during the treatment. The symptoms always disappear after completion of treatment.

Q. How long do the results last?
A. The teeth will always remain lighter than they were. However, some patients may need a periodic touch up for 1-2 days every couple of years, especially if they use caffeine or tobacco products.

Q. What is involved in teeth whitening?
 A. It's an easy procedure:

  1. An impression is taken of your top
    and bottom teeth
  2. The impressions are used to make
    a replica of your top and bottom teeth
  3. A plastic sheet is molded over the
    replica using a vaccuum-former
  4. The result is a custom fitted tray that
    holds the whitening gel comfortably
    over your top and bottom teeth.

 

BACK