Bleaching - How can you brighten your smile?

Your wedding is coming up and you want your smile to be its brightest. Or maybe you have an important speaking engagement. Or perhaps you just want to whiten. While the expense of porcelain veneers may not be for you, bleaching is an affordable way that you can lighten the color of your front teeth.
Generally, bleaching is successful in at least 90 percent of patients. Consider tooth bleaching if your teeth are darkened from age, coffee, tea, or smoking. Teeth darkened with the color of yellow, brown or orange respond better to lightening. Other types of gray stains caused by fluorosis, or tetracycline are lightened, but results are not as dramatic. If you have very sensitive teeth, periodontal disease, or teeth with worn enamel, your may not be a good candidate. Also note that bleaching will not change the color of existing white fillings or crowns. After bleaching, these may need to be replaced to match the  new color of your teeth

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Dr.Chetan Bholel offers two bleaching methods, dentist-supervised at home bleaching and in office power bleaching. With at home bleaching, on the first appointment, an easy and totally painless impression is taken of the teeth to be lightened. After you leave the office, a special plaster is poured into the impression creating a plaster model of your front teeth. A thin clear tray is made to exactly fit over the model, with a special space or reservoir where the bleach will go.
Over the counter, non-dentist supervised kits are available at the drug store or on TV, but they lack the ability to make this special custom tray. They use a home made "boil and bite" tray that lack the special reservoir.
On your second visit, you will be shown how to apply the bleach into the reservoir and how to wear the tray. The bleach is a specially buffered gel containing carbamide peroxide (CH₄N₂0₂) and a special ingredient to reduce sensitivity. The tray is worn nightly while you sleep for approximately a week or until the desired degree of lightening is achieved.

Power Bleaching is performed in the office using a strong hydrogen peroxide gel. The gums are first protected with a special film, the teeth are isolated, and a 40% hydrogen peroxide gel is painted on. The gel is activated using a special strong light and allowed to work for 20 to 30 minutes. Generally, several sessions are required. Extremely dark teeth sometimes respond best to a combination of power bleaching and supervised at home bleaching.

Bleaching can last for about one to five years depending your personal habits such as smoking and drinking coffee and tea. When the teeth start to darken, normally wearing your at home bleaching tray for one night will restore the teeth to their new brilliance. After your initial bleaching, keep your tray in a safe place and store excess bleaching gel in your fridge (don't freeze it).