teeth whitening / teeth bleaching / the right questions to ask

Questions to ask yourself regarding the use of at-home teeth whitening products. Quite possibly some of the most important "right questions" to ask in regards to the at home teeth whitening (teeth bleaching) method should not be directed to your dentist but instead to yourself. One of these questions is: Are you committed to wearing your bleaching trays often enough, and for sufficient lengths of time, so to allow the whitening process to work? There is no dispute that, when chosen for appropriate cases, tray teeth bleaching systems can be successful. The dental literature is filled with examples of this technique being able to produce results, often surprisingly so. You have to realize, however, that at-home teeth whitening is, for the most part, simply a matter of cause and effect. If you are not committed to putting in the hours of wearing your bleaching trays (the cause) you will not obtain a successful outcome (the effect). Now that you've answered the first question, the second question you should ask yourself is this: In regards to teeth, are you aware of what constitutes a realistic shade of white? Unlike most all other dental treatments, the vast majority of your at-home teeth whitening activities will not be directly supervised by your dentist. It is when people become "bleaching junkies", trying to achieve those unnatural and freakish shades of white, that they get themselves into trouble with the side effects of this method.

Should you use an over-the-counter teeth whitener? Some people will be tempted to purchase the materials for at-home whitening on their own, over-the-counter. Please realize that the key to the safety success of at-home tray teeth whitening products is three fold: The bleaching tray is fabricated so to minimally impinge on your gums. An appropriate teeth whitener is utilized (10% carbamide peroxide). The whitening process is monitored, and its side effects are controlled. The awkwardness related to buying teeth whitening products over-the-counter is that the seller will most likely have greater difficulty in providing all of these features to you than your own local dentist would.

Questions to ask your dentist about at-home teeth whitening systems. The obvious question to ask your dentist is simply this: Do they think that at-home tray teeth whitening is suitable for your situation? Appropriate case selection is an extremely important factor in the successful outcome of the at-home teeth whitening process.

Based on their knowledge and experiences your dentist can help you understand what the realistic expectations, and what the potential side effects, are for this process. In those cases where they do not think at-home bleaching is appropriate, your dentist can make suggestions for other types of dental treatment, so to help you obtain the appearance you seek. Before you begin the whitening process you absolutely must discuss with your dentist what dental work will be required after the bleaching process has been completed. Remember, only your teeth will whiten, not your existing dental work. You also need to realize that the whitening you do achieve will not last forever. Typically, as months and years pass, there is a need for "touch up" whitening. Just so you are aware of your dentist's policy, you should ask them about the costs related to this touch up work.

At Home Teeth Whitening: Page 1 What is "at home" teeth whitening? Is there a difference between teeth whiteners? Page 2 When does teeth whitening work? How long does it take to whiten teeth? Page 3 When won't teeth whitening work? Page 4 What are the steps of the teeth whitening process? How long does teeth whitening last? Page 5 What are the side effects of teeth whitening? Are teeth whiteners safe? Page 6 How much does it cost to whiten teeth? Page 7 Questions to ask about teeth whitening.

This topic sponsored by :  Ultra-White.com Teeth whitening products at up to 70% savings.

Haywood, Van B. : Tooth Whitening in Your Practice: Treatment Time and Fee Schedules. Contemporary Esthetics and Restorative Practice. Vol. 4, No. 11. 2000

Leonard, Ralph : Efficacy, Longevity, Side Effects, and Patient Perceptions of Nightguard Vital Bleaching. Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry. Vol. 19, No. 8. 1998

Sonis, S. Dental Secrets, 3rd Edition. Hanley & Belfus, Inc. (c)2003

Li, Yiming : Peroxide-Containing Tooth Whiteners: An Update on Safety. Supplement to Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry. Vol. 21, Suppl No. 28., 2000

Swift, E and Perdigao, J : Effects of Bleaching on Teeth and Restorations. Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry. Vol. 19, No. 8. 1998

Wynn, R., Meiller, T. and Crossley, H. Drug Information Handbook for Dentistry, 9th Edition. Lexi-Comp, Inc. (c)2003