Is In-Office Whitening Suitable for you? | Dental Treatment Guide


The procedure is not always suitable for everyone usually those who have the following conditions:

  • Hypersensitivity of the teeth and gums: To avoid this situation, the dentist will recommend that you use the take home bleaching system that has a lower concentration of the carbamide peroxide which is not as strong as hydrogen peroxide.
  • Intractable Stains: Some stains are more resistant to bleaches even with high concentrations of bleaching, in those cases you will have to use the take home alternative as well as in office bleaches, especially in cases when you have bonding, crowns and porcelain veneers.
  • Transparent teeth due to age

Getting teeth ready for the procedure

  • Your teeth will need to be cleaned to get rid of plaque and debris that may have collect both on the surface and in between your teeth.
  • You will want to have a dental exam, so that your doctor is prepared for any problems that you teeth have such as tooth decay, cracks and gum disease. Bleaching may cause irritation if you have any of these problems, your doctor may want to delay the procedure until he has adequately dealt with these situations.
  • You may to have photos taken of your teeth so that you can see how the whitening progressed.

The In-Office Teeth Whitening Procedure

The procedure changes on a by office basis, however most time the routine is roughly the same. Usually you will find that you are neither uncomfortable or in pain, you may even fall asleep or in some cases you may watch television or a movie, if your dental office provides these amenities.

The procedure is as follows:

  • A retractor for the cheek is inserted into your mouth, showing all the teeth that are usually visible when you are smiling.
  • A rubber liquid dam or resin is then painted onto your gum tissues in order to keep you from experiencing the irritation that may be caused by the bleaching gel.
  • The gel used for bleaching contains hydrogen peroxide and will be kept on your smile teeth for about 15 to 30 minutes.
  • The gel will then be suctioned of your teeth, you will rinse any residual gel, and you will have new gel applied for an additional 15 to 30 minutes
  • An ultraviolet light is used to enhance your process. Many treatments incorporate the intense light on the teeth to enhance the bleaching process.
  • The teeth will be check in between the gel applications to ensure the whitening is working or if more bleach is needed.
  • The cheek retractors are removed, when the gel application is over, then your progress is measured on the color chart to see the whitening change. Your teeth may whiten a few shades, usually two or three or as many as eight. You may find that the teeth will look whiter than their true new color, you will find out what the right color is in a couple of days.
  • If the level of whitening you desire has not been achieved, your doctor may want you to return for another in-office treatment or give you a take home bleaching treatment program. 

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