| Robert S. Gurmankin, DMD |
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Bleaching works!
 Just about everyone would love to have whiter teeth if they could. In the past ten years tooth bleaching has really taken off, has gotten less expensive and easier to do. Yes we know that the TV commercials want you to believe that you can bleach your teeth for $30 and all you have to do is sprinkle your teeth with white powder once or twice. Sorry, it's easy, but not that easy. Over-the-counter (OTC) whitening toothpastes and bleaching systems are a waste of time and money. OTC bleaching systems do not use custom trays and you may swallow more bleaching agent than what remains on your teeth. Some OTC bleaching gels can also be damaging to the teeth. Bleaching teeth effectively requires a molded mouthguard fitted to your teeth and the conscientious application of the bleaching gel by the patient at home. Generally, bleaching is successful in about 90 percent of patients, though no one can really predict how much lighter your teeth will become. Consider tooth bleaching if your teeth are darkened from age, coffee, tea, or smoking. Teeth in the yellow or brown range respond best to bleaching. Stains in the gray family (such as tetracycline) can be more stubborn, if not impossible, to bleach. The success rate depends upon the type of stain and your compliance. Bleaching can only provide a shift in color from gray to a lighter shade of gray, for example. If you have porcelain crowns or bonded restorations in conspicuous areas of your mouth, these will not lighten from bleaching and may not match the shade of your newly whitened natural teeth. So you may be thinking, "I want my teeth bleached! What do I need to do?" Give us a call; first we’ll examine your teeth. For at-home bleaching, we take an impression of your teeth and make a custom-fitted clear plastic tray. The bleaching gel is then placed in the tray and worn for two to four hours daily (or at night) for a period of about two to three weeks. You will be returning to the office for a monitoring visit to determine the response of the teeth to bleaching and any side effects. The most common side effects are cold sensitivity of the teeth and gum irritation. These side effects are usually minor and disappear soon after the bleaching procedures are concluded. Typically bleaching can last up to 10 years or more, depending on whether or not you smoke, consume acid containing foods, or consume staining foods like coffee, tea, etc.
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Disclaimer
All advice provided on this web site is in the nature of general advice only. The advice may not be applicable to your particular circumstances. You are therefore advised to seek detailed advice from a qualified dentist prior to embarking on any course of action. We can not accept liability for any treatment undertaken on the basis of this web site.