If you are seriously contemplating brightening up your smile, tooth whitening may very well be a viable option for you.  Compared to other forms of dental treatment such as composite resins, porcelain veneers and crowns, tooth whitening is non- invasive and predictably safe.

There are 3 broad categories of whitening products available, the first two being the most effective due to higher peroxide concentrations.  For the same reason, the same two methods may only be performed by a qualified dental practitioner.

The 3 categories are:

1)    In-Office Whitening:  Made famous by popular makeover television series as the 1 hour whitening. This category of whitening involves the use of high concentration peroxide which may be activated the use of light/heat/lasers. 

2)    Take Home Whitening:  Also known as nightguard whitening. Involves the application of take home whitening gels via custom fit trays fabricated by the dentist. The trays are worn between 2 hours to overnight over a course of 2–6weeks. Although the concentration of peroxide in these gels are much lower than the ones used in In-Office whitening, the content is still much too high to be used unsupervised by a dental professional. 

3)     Over-The-Counter (OTC) Whitening Products:  From whitening toothpastes to whitening strips, a whole array of OTC whitening products is available at your nearest pharmacy. These products are less than one-tenth the strength of the ones used in dental offices. A point to note is that many whitening toothpastes have a very high abrasive content and do not stay in contact with the teeth long enough to result in significant improvement.

The Steps Involved in In-Office Whitening

A.    Dental Consultation:

We highly recommend you consult a dentist prior to whitening your teeth. Although tooth whitening is relatively safe, pre-existing conditions such as decay (dental caries), cracked teeth and gum (gingival recession) may lead to discomfort and sensitivity. Any allergies, pre-existing medical conditions must be communicated at the very start.

B.    Dental Prophylaxis:

The dentist would then proceed to remove any calculus (tartar) and extrinsic (external) stains that may be on the surface of the teeth. If you recently had your regular hygiene visit, this stage may be skipped.

C.    Shade Evaluation and Photo Taking

With the use of a standardised shade guide, the dentist would then evaluate the existing shade of the teeth. The dentist would then proceed to discuss how much brighter the teeth may get. Pre-whitening photos would also be taken.

D.    Application of Whitening Gel

A protective material is placed on the gums to protect it from the peroxide gel. The whitening gel is then applied onto the teeth. Depending on the whitening system used, this is repeated between 2 to 4 cycles, with or without the use of a light/laser.

E.    Post Whitening Evaluation and Photos

Once the process is complete, the new shade is evaluated and photos are taken. If the dentist feels that the patient would benefit, a touch up visit may be scheduled.

The Steps Involved in Take Home Whitening

The process begins similar to In-Office Whitening, following through Steps A) to C). An impression of both the upper and lower teeth would be taken for the fabrication of custom/plastic trays. These trays allow for the precise application of whitening gel. The patient proceeds to put on the trays at night over a period of 2 – 6 weeks. A review with the dentist is scheduled every 2 weeks to evaluate the progress.