Whitening or bleaching of your teeth is an exciting and conservative way to brighten your smile! There are several ways that this can be accomplished and we have found that the most effective way is with properly fabricated professional whitening trays. In office bleaching can work, however, really does not allow for continued whitening after leaving the office. The trays allow us to customize your whitening procedure to your needs as well as allow you a way to be able to touch up for years to come.
With the use of professional trays, multiple sessions at home can produce better results. This is as easy as thirty minutes twice a day with some of the more advanced professional solutions. The professional trays also should have a “reservoir” to allow the solutions to sit on the teeth as opposed to squeezing the solutions out when a tight tray is fabricated. The custom trays should “lock” the solution in the tray.
Whitening of the teeth can be considered when:
-The patient is happy with the shape of their teeth
-When a lighter shade is desired (whitening will not produce bright white teeth)
-There is minimal or no gum recession
– The teeth are healthy and no decay or gum disease is present
If your teeth are chipped, worn, or broken and one is looking for a change in shape or size, whitening is not indicated. Another contraindication would be worn teeth where the second layer of tooth is exposed. These issues may be indicative of other problems such as misaligned bites or TMJ issues. Porcelain veneers might be a better option in these situations. Another concern is the existing shade of your teeth and what you are trying to achieve. It is also very important to know what type of whitening solutions you are using. All solutions are not the same, some are more acidic, others are too thin.
In overview, whitening of your teeth can help brighten your smile.
If you have any questions regarding Houston Cosmetic Dentistry or Houston Porcelain Veneers, please feel free to contact our office, Ronald W. Konig DDS, FAGD, LVIF, 713-668-2289.
