Understanding
Teeth Whitening*
What You Need To Know Before
You Whiten Your Teeth









                                                                       













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                                                                                                                       From Toothpaste To
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Understanding
Teeth Whitening*
What You Need To Know Before
You Whiten Your Teeth

Compare The 6 Most Common Options From Toothpaste To Laser Whitening...

Understanding Teeth Whitening
What Options
Are Available?
Let’s face it,—first impressions are very important. Your smile plays a huge part in the impression  you make. In fact, research into human behavior reveals that we judge the physical, mental and emotional reserves of a person based on our instinctual first impressions. A radiant smile automatically registers feelings of trust.  

Few people still remember the commercial jingle of years ago, “You wonder where the yellow  went when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent.” Toothpaste used to be promoted to whiten teeth; then toothpaste companies focused their advertising on preventing cavities. When you asked people what toothpaste they could use to get their teeth whiter, only a very few toothpastes like Pearl Drops, Topol, and maybe Ultrabrite would come to mind. These brands only whiten by “sanding” the tooth surface with gritty abrasives. Yet today when you look at the toothpaste shelves in your local grocery or drug store, each label claims to promote “whiter” teeth.

As more of our patients ask us what works best, we decided to put together a comprehensive  look at the choices.  

The following is a compilation of our professional opinions and may differ from the opinions of  major product manufacturers.
WHITENING
TOOTHPASTES
The Same Old
Toothpaste In A
Fancy New Box?
First, let’s look at whitening toothpaste. When examining most toothpaste’s lists of ingredients,  you will find that there is little difference. You would think that if you bought a product labeled as a whitening toothpaste, the active ingredient would be a tooth-whitening chemical. Yet even in more costly toothpastes, the only ingredient the FDA is allowing to be listed as active is the fluoride compound, which has nothing to do with whitening teeth. Everything else is listed as inactive ingredients. Many toothpastes with whitening claims on the box are no different than before. They are just in a new box. 

So what is in toothpaste that whitens? For many the ingredient is called silica or sometimes  hydrated silica (wet sand). This common abrasive has been around for years. Some toothpastes also use another abrasive called alumina and/or titanium dioxide. However, dentists have said for years that abrasives are not good because you do not want to slowly sand away your teeth! 

A newer whitening ingredient frequently used is a type of sodium phosphate. The thought with  this whitening agent is usually based on the idea of removing the protein coating that the saliva naturally places on your teeth. This protein is called the pellicle and is the main reason for the natural “slimy” feeling on your teeth. Most food stains do not initially stick to the tooth but stick to this protein coating. So if you brush stains away by using sodium phosphate to remove the pellicle coating, the pellicle reforms on the tooth in just a few hours and so no damage is  done to the tooth. 

There is no doubt that keeping food stains off of your teeth helps keep your teeth white.
However, at best, toothpastes are not making your teeth any whiter than a hygienist will by  polishing your teeth on the usual interval.
OVER-THE-COUNTER
WHITENING SYSTEMS
Beware Your
Tooth Enamel
& Gums!
Over-the-counter whitening “systems” are basically toothpastes with a small amount of peroxide  and possibly a weak acid like phosphoric, acetic, or citric. Long-term exposure to these acids dissolves little bits of enamel from your teeth. The concentration of peroxide in these products is only about 1 to 3%, so they are no more effective than rinsing with hydrogen peroxide. However, long term rinsing with peroxides may be harmful to your gums. 
Paint-On
Whitening Gels
There are many different over-the-counter choices with gels. None are dentist administered.  While gels will whiten teeth a couple of shades, they have many drawbacks. 

Gels only work to whiten when in contact with the tooth surface. They work better than strips for crooked teeth or between teeth, however patients find them hard to administer since saliva, food or drinks wash the product off the tooth surface. You must let the gel dry on the tooth to be effective, which is very difficult. 

The other concern for most people is that paint-on gels will typically only whiten the front  teeth on top and bottom because it is difficult to paint and dry the back teeth. Gels are typically selected because of the low cost, but the results are quite limited. Caution is also recommended as gum irritation can occur if application is not exact. 

Most dentists agree that these products are a waste of money if you hope to have noticeable  results.
Teeth Whitening
Strips
Strips you buy over-the-counter are mildly effective but do not provide comparable results  to dentist administered whitening. In order to obtain the level of whitening you would expect from a professional, you will probably need to use four to six boxes of over-the-counter whitening strips. Again, because whitening only occurs where the bleach is in contact with the tooth surface, the strips do not work well for crooked teeth or between teeth. Many people who have used whitening strips then purchase a tray whitening system to significantly whiten their teeth or correct any uniformity issues created by whitening strips.
DENTIST ADMINISTERED
WHITENING TRAY SYSTEMS
The Only Effective
Whitening Tray
Systems Available
Dentist administered whitening tray systems can make a difference without costing an arm and a  leg. In the mid 1980’s carbamide peroxide, which had been used for years for minor gum irritations, was found to whiten teeth. Peroxide is the product an estimated 99% of dentists use today to whiten teeth when using a tray system. 

Tray systems are available in 2 major groups, one is a customized take home tray system, and the  other utilizes in-office whitening plus customized take home trays for the deepest, most long lasting whitening. Both processes will generally provide whitening in 2 weeks or less. 

Most people with typical stains can get impressive results with either tray system. The average fee  for these applications ranges from $250 to $1000. Both of these systems provide quick, professional results at an affordable cost.

To create the custom trays, the dentist makes an impression of your teeth to create a plaster model.  Your dentist then creates reservoirs for the bleach, and, with special equipment, molds a plastic sheet over the model. You now have a custom made tray just for your teeth. Your dentist can adjust these after wearing to ensure a comfortable fit. 

You wear the trays either at night while you sleep, or for a specific amount of time during the day.  For those who stay committed to completion of this process, most will see a significant difference in the color of their teeth. Most people get excellent results from custom fit whitening trays, and enjoy the freedom to continue bleaching into the future at their own convenience. The custom trays will continue to fit and provide whitening capabilities as long as there are no major movements of the teeth. Refills of the bleaching gel are available upon request.
Custom whitening trays made from molded impressions
DENTIST ADMINISTERED
WHITENING TRAY SYSTEM
Whitening Trays
Our goal is to help you achieve the results you are looking for. Usually that involves balancing  expected results with ease of application and cost. That’s why we have chosen to use a combination of carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide. If you want to see whitening for the lowest cost, the peroxide type bleaches are your best option. Dentists have a choice of several companies to purchase these materials from. The most common names are Venus, Nite White, Day White, Opalescence, Contrast, KOR, Zoom and Pola. 

We have chosen Opalescence for convenience as a take-home kit.
Another Over-The-Counter  Warning! 
It is interesting to note that this same bleach (carbamide peroxide) can be purchased by you  over-the-counter. The over-the-counter versions sell in most places (and infomercials) for about $25 to $50. But do not be fooled into thinking that you get the same thing. For one thing, the bleach is about a one-third concentration of what the dentist uses and is typically “runny,” which means it does not stay in the tray long so you have to apply it more frequently. Aside from the added inconvenience, frequent application means most people have to purchase a second or third bottle to complete their bleaching.

Perhaps the worst part of the over-the-counter bleach experience is the tray. To hold the
bleach against your teeth, these products provide a ‘boil and bite’ athletic mouthguard. This is  a simple way to make a bleaching tray at home but this large mouthguard is just too bulky for most people to wear 2 to 3 hours a day, or especially overnight.

When you place the mouthguard in your mouth with bleach in it, almost all of the bleach is  pressed out. If you do not keep biting, the lower teeth open slightly, resulting in inadequate bleaching due to lack of contact with the teeth. Holding your bite may also cause jaw tightness and soreness, manifesting as headaches after use. This is especially a problem if you have TMJ or jaw joint problems. Poorly fitting trays also rub on the gums causing irritation. Most people are not willing to endure this discomfort for a less than desired result.
30 MINUTE IN-OFFICE
WHITENING
If You Are In A
Hurry This May
Be For You
The fastest type of whitening is concentrated in-office bleaching. This process is relatively  new. Even though there are several chemical components to this system, the main bleach in this product is hydrogen peroxide, which has been used for over 29 years to safely bleach teeth. Unlike the 1 to 3% solution used in over-the-counter hydrogen peroxide bleaches, this procedure uses up to 50%. A concentrated light source can also be applied to speed up the process.

Bleach this strong is very irritating to skin. So a major concern when using bleach of this
strength is protecting the gums, cheek, lips, and tongue. This is done by covering and protecting  soft tissues near and around your teeth with special waxes and gels. Even with these precautions you may still experience some irritation from the bleach and concentrated light. Vitamin E is usually used following treatment in areas where the bleach or the light is thought to have irritated the tissue.
How the In-Office -
Whitening  Process works
The fee for the in-office whitening procedure may vary depending on the number of visits  needed, but in most cases can be accomplished in 1 30-minute session costing upwards of $500-$600. Some in-office whitening patients feel they need a second round of bleaching or follow up with take home trays. Because of the potential for added cost and likelihood of wearing take-home trays anyways, we reccommend take home whitening systems for all our patients.

These systems can use a white light system as the energy source to activate the hydrogen  peroxide to allow it to bleach faster. We typically do not recommend the use of a light due to an increase in sensitivity and the potential for dehydration of the teeth.
All Of Our
Procedures Are
Customized To
YOUR Situation
We have refined and improved the standard bleaching procedures by using our 19 years of  bleaching experience. We have chosen bleaching programs that we feel represent the best value to our patients. We only use leading manufacturers that offer a wide range of options to take advantage of what each product does best. This means that the bleaching plan can vary from person to person as we consider each of our patient’s needs. During your complete whitening process our dental team will be monitoring your progress to assure your teeth and gums remain healthy while delivering the results you are looking for.
GENERATIONS DENTAL
- OUR EXPERIENCE WILL
GET YOU RESULTS
Our goal is to help you understand the whitening process, answer any questions you may have,  help you feel as comfortable as possible on the day of your bleaching and assist you throughout the process. 

If your teeth have not been cleaned recently, we recommend that you have them cleaned first  to remove any tartar buildup as your teeth will not bleach under the tartar. We also suggest a complete examination and x-rays of your teeth if you have not had regular dental care. If your dentist has taken these x-rays for you in the last 12 months, we will make every effort to make use of them. An exam and current x-rays are important to ensure there are no cavities before you start whitening, because adding bleach to a cavity can cause a lot of sensitivity.
So, How White Can
You Make My Teeth?
The big question on everyone’s mind when considering teeth whitening is “will the results be  worth the time and cost?” We have invested thousands of dollars and years of experience to make sure the answer is a resounding “YES!” We also have many success stories that back up our claims. We can show you examples of results we have achieved with real patients. Our top priority is to be certain that you are very happy with your results. While results vary from person to person, everyone can benefit from this procedure—most with astounding results. The goal of bleaching is to give you the whitest possible teeth as quickly, easily, and inexpensively as possible. The next page is an explanation of how to estimate your results.
UNDERSTANDING TEETH
WHITENING COLOR
The Results
YOU Can Expect
Potential results will depend on your teeth - everyone’s teeth are different. If your teeth are  heavily stained from coffee or smoking, you will probably see a big change. If your teeth are not heavily stained, the change will not be as great. Changes up to 6 shades lighter are possible depending on length and concentration of the gel used. Shades are measured by our dental team using a standardized shade guide. The guide encompasses a spectrum of shades from very dark, to very light. This guide will assist in accurately determining the efficacy of our bleaching treatment.

Teeth with grey colours or tetracycline staining may be somewhat resistant to bleaching. Darkly  coloured teeth have major variations in the amount of calcium per cubic millimeter, and may not blend to be a solid colour. Further treatment may be required for optimal results in these select cases. We recommend using the shade guide in our take-home kit as a point of reference for a starting shade. As bleaching will take place over a number of applications, it may be difficult to accurately reference the starting shade. The best way to examine your results are through sequential photographs with a shade tab in place.

Teeth can be whitened to achieve an aesthetic result and provide an extreme boost in confidence  and self-esteem. The results can be dazzling.
TEETH WHITENING OPTION CHART
Permanent
Whitening
All bleaching results will fade over time and need touching up to keep them bright. Many  people would like to have more dramatic changes than just whitening or would like teeth that  stay white without the touch ups. Veneers are a great solution for these people. Sometimes a combination of crowns and veneers are utilized to accurately rebuild the proper aesthetic dimensions of a persons smile. We also offer minimal preparation veneers which can be fabricated and cemented without a single injection. All of these cosmetic solutions are excellent choices for teeth that are resistant to bleaching. Your dentist will be able to provide you with more information on which choice is the best for you. 
What To Do Now…
The next step is to call our office for a one-on-one consultation with our dentist. Our team will
evaluate your specific needs and come up with a plan to get the results you desire.
We are offering a Whitening For Life Program
for only $200. If you haven't already applied now's your chance...
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