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Only dentist supervised systems are recommended for several reasons. The trays we make are custom fit and molded so the gel seats properly in the tray. The over-the-counter trays are much too bulky and spill most of the gel onto the gums where it can cause sensitivity and sore gums. The strength of the gel provided by your dentist is greater than store-bought gels so it works better and faster. A dentist should evaluate your specific dental situation and tailor the tray to your teeth and your staining patterns. This means that more gel can be placed on those areas that are more stained. If you have any questions about tooth whitening or think that this may be for you just ask when you come in or make an appointment for a consultation. You have only your stains to lose!
Does tooth whitening last?
You can expect your results to be extremely long lasting (years). Non-smokers who don't drink a lot of coffee, tea or soda can expect to have the whitening last for as long as five or more years depending on your habits and foods you eat. In the event that your teeth do reabsorb stains, you may opt for occasional touch up treatments to keep your teeth their whitest.
What is it?
Whitening is a procedure that lightens discolorations and removes stains from the enamel and dentin of teeth. It can be performed on any tooth, even one that has had root canal treatment. There are many causes for stained teeth. Some of the most common include aging, consumption of staining substances (coffee, teas, tobacco, red wine), trauma, tetracycline (antibiotic) staining, excessive fluoride, and nerve degeneration.
Why should I go to a Dentist?
Only your dentist can get your teeth their whitest! Those glorified toothpastes at the grocery store just can't get the job done. Prior to starting treatment Dr. Burba will perform a complete examination of your teeth and gums. This is done to determine what kinds of stains you have, but more importantly to determine if you have any untreated cavities, decay, or unhealthy teeth or gums. These will all impact the success of your treatment.
Who can have it done?
Almost anyone can have his or her teeth whitened. There are, however, some situations where treatment may not be as effective. Dr. Burba will determine if any of these conditions exist when he performs his examination and diagnosis. Whitening is ideal for those patients who have healthy, unrestored teeth and would just like them to be whiter and brighter.
Is it safe?
Yes! There has been extensive testing of all of the professional tooth whitening systems that Dr. Burba can prescribe to patients. These have all been shown to be completely safe to use under the supervision of a dentist and to cause no damage to the teeth. The same is not true of those infomercial specials that we all have seen late at night. To date, there has been no testing done on the effects of using a professional tooth whitening system while pregnant or lactating. Therefore, Dr. Burba does not recommend that you use them if you are pregnant or lactating. Most dentists consider tooth whitening to be the safest cosmetic procedure available today.
Will my teeth whiten evenly?
Sometimes the biting edges and the sides whiten more quickly than the rest of the tooth. This occurs because your enamel is thinner at the edges of the teeth and responds faster to the whitening process. Also, some more heavily stained teeth may whiten more slowly. In certain cases, white spots may appear that are much whiter that the rest of the tooth. These were always there they just show up more during the whitening treatments. The rest of your teeth will catch up as you continue to treat them and the color will even out.
Are there different types?
We offer two types of whitening procedures at our office. Whitening may be done completely in the dental office (known as chairside whitening) or a system may be dispensed by the dentist, for the patient to use at home (nightguard whitening). We offer Brite Smile Whitening in our office as our chairside service. Our staff have been ceritfied by Brite Smile so we can offer the best results. Chairside whitening usually takes a little over an hour per visit. A gel solution is painted onto the teeth and a special light is used to help activate the solution. Generally one visit is all it takes, but depending on the type of stains, two or three visits may be needed. Enjoy watching television and having a paraffin hand wax while your teeth are being whitened. You can learn more about Brite Smile by calling our office or visiting thier website at www.britesmilewhitening.com. To book a Brite Smile Whitening appointment now call our office at 978-744-7575. With nightguard whitening, Dr. Burba fabricates a custom-fitted mouthguard that holds a whitening gel. These personalized trays allow you to achieve optimum results, unlike the "one size fits all" trays that come with those over-the-counter kits you get at the drug store. These trays are worn either at night or for short intervals during the day to whiten the teeth. The number of days needed varies with each person, but usually only two weeks of treatments at home are necessary. Most people start to see dramatic results almost immediately. These same trays can be worn to perform touch-up whitening treatments before special occasions like a wedding or graduation where you want to be looking your best.
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