Your teeth have pores, just like a sponge, which causes them to absorb stains.
At your consultation, you’ll discuss your needs with your dentist. If teeth whitening isn’t right for your situation, they can provide alternatives for you. But if teeth whitening is the best option, they will provide a treatment plan that allows you to achieve your desired level of brightness.
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To start your at-home teeth whitening treatment, your dentist will take impressions of your teeth using dental trays and putty. These impressions will be sent to a dental lab, where a set of reusable, durable custom whitening trays will be built for your teeth.
Once your custom trays have been built, you’ll come back into our office to get your trays from your dentist, as well as a set of whitening products and instructions on how to use your whitening trays. Then, you’ll simply follow these instructions and whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home.
All commonly-used and approved teeth whitening products use chemical whitening agents known as “peroxides.” The two most frequently used chemical compounds are carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide.
These chemicals whiten your teeth at a molecular level by destroying and removing stains. Peroxides contain highly-volatile oxygen molecules that react strongly to the presence of surface stains. When they contact stains, peroxides break the bonds that hold them in place on your teeth, and “bleach” them away from your teeth, leaving behind natural, bright enamel.
KöR Whitening is one of the best selling teeth whitening systems because of its versatility and effectiveness. KöR at-home whitening lets you whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home, and provides more subtle, gradual results over the course of about 2 weeks. We have KöR-Day™ or KöR-Night™ teeth whitening options available. Nighttime whitening provides great results while you sleep and is usually the most cost effective option.
The daytime at-home whitening system is an option for patients who can't wear or would prefer not to wear whitening trays while sleeping. Since the daytime option is only worn for short periods, it's also better for patients with sensitivity.
We can combine in-office whitening treatments and at-home whitening treatments to achieve a patient's desired results for all types of stubborn staining. KöR in-office whitening provides fast results that can brighten your smile by several shades in a single appointment. When supported with at-home treatment, the results are remarkable.
Sensitivity after whitening is normal, but should subside within a few days.
Professional teeth whitening that is overseen and administered by a qualified dentist will never damage your teeth. Your dentist will ensure that you get the proper whitening products and that you do not over whiten your teeth.
However, it is possible to damage the teeth by over whitening them. The peroxide-based whiteners used in the teeth whitening process can weaken the teeth and damage the enamel if they are not used properly, or are used too frequently.
For this reason, it’s a good idea to avoid over-the-counter (OTC) teeth whitening kits from sources like Amazon and other websites, which could contain dangerously-high levels of peroxide.
If you do not want to pay for professional teeth whitening services from your dentist, make sure you only use ADA-approved whitening products like Crest Whitestrips. ADA-approved products have relatively low concentrations of peroxide, so the risk of enamel damage from over-whitening is much lower.
When properly placed and maintained with care, dental implants can last up to 30 years or more. It’s very common for patients to keep their implants for the rest of their lives.
The dental implant restoration, on the other hand, may not last this long. Restorations such as dental crowns or overdentures are exposed to regular wear and tear from chewing, biting, and more. Over the years, the restoration may need to be replaced a few times to keep your smile healthy and functional.
There are two categories of teeth whitening products that actually work.
The first are abrasive whiteners, such as toothpaste that contains baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), and other very mild abrasives. These abrasives work similarly to sandpaper, rubbing plaque and surface stains away from your teeth. These abrasive whiteners work on minor stains, but the abrasive is not strong enough to damage enamel.
It is recommended that you avoid charcoal toothpaste, which has abrasives that may be hard enough to damage your enamel with frequent use. Stick to an ADA-approved whitening toothpaste product.
The second category of teeth whitening products that actually work are chemical whiteners that contain peroxide. These are available both from dentists and over-the-counter, but it’s best to work with a dentist to get your desired results, and ensure that your teeth are not damaged by over whitening.
To explore your options in further detail and make sure you choose a safe, effective teeth whitening product, get in touch with your dentist for a consult.
The precise reason that whitening causes sensitivity is not fully known, but the leading theory is that it’s due to “dentinal microtubules.” These extremely small, microscopic channels in our teeth connect the exterior of the tooth enamel to the interior nerve, allowing us to feel sensations in our teeth.
The theory is that, since peroxide-based whiteners weaken the enamel very slightly, this exposes the microtubules, which become much more sensitive. Then, as the enamel remineralizes and becomes stronger after the whitening process is over, they are sealed up again, and no longer feel overly sensitive. This would explain why the sensitivity caused by teeth whitening typically only lasts for a few days.
Dental work, like crowns, bridges and veneers, cannot be whitened.
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