Teeth Whitening (Bleaching)

A smile is the first impression that you leave upon others!!  A bright, white smile can bring you more confidence to put out your best.  If you suffer from discolored teeth brought on by food, drink, tobacco or even just aging, then you might want to look into teeth whitening. 

There are many reasons why your teeth can have discoloration and are usually categorized as extrinsic (or outside forces) or intrinsic (or internal to your body) causes. It is important to determine the source of your tooth discoloration as it determines the treatment course. Extrinsic stains can be treated through tooth whitening, whereas intrinsic factors usually require other forms of treatment.

So what are some examples and differences? 

Intrinsic discoloration can be caused by certain medications, darkening of the tooth after root canal therapy or necrotic teeth. These types of stains are better treated through crowns, veneers, or internal bleaching.

Extrinsic stains can be caused by various foods (tomato-based sauces, curries, soy sauce, etc), drinks (tea, coffee, cola, red wine, etc) or smoking. If you and your dentist determine that your tooth stains have been caused by extrinsic factors, then tooth whitening is a great option for treatment!

At our office, we offer custom fit bleaching trays to make at home bleaching as easy as possible. A custom tray will help to ensure the even distribution of material, protection of soft tissue from bleach materials, as well as being convenient to use at home.

After you bleach your teeth, you will want to make sure that you keep your newly whitened teeth shiny and bright for as long as possible!  To help keep your smile whiter longer you should avoid food and beverages that are known to cause tooth staining as much as you can – especially for the first 24 hours after the treatment.  

Naturally over time, as your teeth age, and are gradually exposed to more staining factors you will find that your teeth can start to yellow or discolor again.  You can purchase refill bleach from our office at any time!

Pola Advanced Tooth Whitening System

Some patients will report an increase in tooth sensitivity as a result of whitening. If you suffer from tooth sensitivity, we may recommend the use of Pola Night whitening solution as its active ingredient Carbamide Peroxide is slower acting and gentler than Pola Day, which uses Hydrogen Peroxide. Our dentists will be happy to discuss which solution is best for your teeth!