Dentist and Skin Care Blog from Boston's Area Leading Dental Office

Over time, aging, eating habits and tooth trauma can lead to yellowed enamel. If you’re self conscious about discolored teeth, whitening is an affordable, safe way to restore your smile. Before deciding whether to purchase a home whitening kit or have your Boston smile expert treat yellowing teeth, here is some helpful information to determine which method is best for you.

Chairside bleaching: Also called “power bleaching,” chairside whitening is performed in-office by the dentist and his staff. It brings the most drastic, fast-acting results of any whitening method. While in-office bleaching costs more than over-the-counter products, Smile and Skin currently offers this effective service for a special price of $299.00 (regular price $499.00).

1. The Process: After using a gel or rubber shield to protect gums and sensitive mouth tissue, your dentist applies a hydrogen peroxide-based whitener to teeth. He/she may also use a laser light (or similar device) to accelerate the whitening process before rinsing gel off of your teeth. The entire process should take 30 to 60 minutes, and may need to be repeated to achieve the tooth shade you desire. One of the most exciting chairside whitening products is called Zoom Whitening—and results can last five years or more, depending on the person.
2. Side Effects: Depending on your degree of tooth discoloration, chairside whitening may lighten your smile by four to six shades. For most people, side effects are minimal—and may include acute sensitivity to hot and cold. Higher levels of hydrogen peroxide in the whitening gel may increase mouth sensitivity, but discomfort typically resolves within 24 to 48 hours.        

At-Home Tray Bleaching: At-home whitening products are inexpensive and easy to use in the comfort of your bathroom—which is why millions of consumers purchase them each year. However, results take longer to achieve—and home whiteners tend to cause more gum and tooth irritation than chairside application.

1. The Process: Over-the-counter tray kits come with a whitening tray and whitening gel. Users squeeze gel into the tray, and place it in their mouth for 20 to 30 minutes at a time. Unlike in-office bleaching, at home systems have a lower concentration of hydrogen peroxide. Because of this, several applications may be required before you see even a one- to two-shade difference.
2. Side Effects: Since over-the-counter whitening systems may require increased applications, there is a risk of increased tooth sensitivity over time. To avoid chronic sensitivity, you may need to wait several days or weeks between uses to allow discomfort to resolve. In addition, while OTC whitening trays are similar to what’s used in your dentist’s office, the tray is not customized to your bite. The one-size-fits-all apparatus allows gel to contact gums and mouth tissue—which may cause irritation. If you’d prefer in-home whitening to an office visit, ask Dr. Meola and his staff about a dentist-dispensed whitening system designed to custom fit your specific bite.

It’s also important to remember that visible fillings or crowns cannot be lightened with any bleach procedure. Ask the Smile and Skin team about replacing them with a lighter filling color—or get an estimate on veneers—so affected teeth will better blend with newly bleached teeth.

Ready for a brighter, lighter smile? Call Smile and Skin today at 781-893-7500 to schedule your cosmetic dentistry appointment, or to inquire about Zoom Whitening, in-home tray systems or veneer application.   We would also love to hear your comments if you have gotten your teeth whiten and the impact - either positive or negative.  Let us know!!!