In-Office vs. At-Home Teeth Whitening

At Redstone Dental Center we use Polar White as our form of teeth whitening to provide our patients with a whiter brighter smile faster. Many of my patients have questions about in-office teeth whitening in comparison to at-home teeth whitening. Before making any decisions I like to provide my patients with comparative pieces of information to help them make an informed decision.

Bleaching has been used to whiten teeth since the 1800s, but with the introduction of home bleaching system in 1989, its use has widened. At Redstone Dental Center, we offer two types of bleaching treatments. The first is home treatment, which involves the patient using carbamide peroxide materials in a custom-fitted tray overnight or for a few hours a day. This particular treatment is for anyone with mild discolorations desiring teeth a shade or two whiter and willing to devote time to an at-home regimen. Home bleaching takes about 3-4 weeks for measureable results to be seen.

Anyone with mild to severe discolorations desiring an immediate result, we recommend having the power bleaching treatment that we perform in the office. Power bleaching employs a 30% to 50% hydrogen peroxide solution further activated by a strong light or heat. In office power bleaching also involves microabrasion to remove superficial staining from enamel with hydrochloric acid and fine abrasive.

The results of bleaching last about a year. Side effects of bleaching include tooth hypersensitivity, soft tissue lesions, and sore throat and nausea from swallowing the bleach.

Please call me to schedule a free teeth-whitening consultation to see which treatment will make you look your best. 

Dr. Bui

www.RedstoneDental.com