Teeth Whitening at the Dentist

Teeth whitening in the dental office is actually one of the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedures, currently performed worldwide. Unlike teeth whitening kits for home that contain substances with a lowest concentration of teeth whitening agent, in-office teeth whitening procedure carried out under medical supervision allows the practitioner to apply a teeth whitening substance with a much higher concentration that is significantly more effective, and one good single treatment will suffice.

In-Office Teeth Whitening (Power Bleaching)

The uses of much higher concentration form of hydrogen peroxide, plus the use of a direct high intensity light source to trigger the bleaching reaction on the teeth. The teeth are firstly thoroughly cleaned of extrinsic stains (food,drink and tobacco stains) and then they are isolated by a piece of rubber-dam,or a gum guard, to protect the gums and mouth from the gel. The gel is then rubbed onto all of the tooth front surfaces, which will be exposed to the high intensity light for five to seven minutes. The gel is now rubbed off the teeth, followed by a second coating of gel. This process is then repeated four to six times. The gel is then washed off completely and a fluoride gel is applied to the teeth for one minute to replenish the surface layer with nourishing fluoride ions.

After the power bleaching process, only minimal initial sensitivity may be felt, but this will subside by the evening, returning to normal by the next day. Immediately after the teeth whitening session, you must not expose your teeth to substances which quickly stain them, namely tobacco, tea, coffee, red wine, and so on. These should also be avoided or reduced if you wish the whiteness to last longer. The result of this in-office teeth whitening process is very dramatic. Teeth will look immaculately whiter and they can remain so for 3 years, but is potentially permanent.It is important to realize that the in-office whitening of teeth with these chemicals can only bring out the full potential whiteness of the natural teeth and cannot be expected to compare with the absolute whiteness offered by a porcelain veneer or crown, which are made to be “marble white.”

The process eliminates years of intrinsic stains caused over time by the permeability of the teeth which allows slow infusion of organic pigments from chromogenic foods, like gravy and curry(and for some people,tobacco),to potentiate the natural whiteness of your teeth, rejuvenating your smile.

The advantage of teeth whitening is that all the many teeth in the mouth can be whitened together immediately at a fraction of the cost (approx. 5%) of a “mouthful of  porcelain veneers.”

At The Hong Kong Japanese Dental Clinic, we are using both a diode laser and also a special halogen lamp of blue spectrum together with now arguably,the world’s fastest and most advanced in-office teeth whitening system that incorporates a top level of nearly 38% hydrogen peroxide for the most dramatic teeth whitening results in as little as 25 minutes ! This is the latest product on the market.It is painless, quick, non-invasive,and it works wonderfully, giving you a delightful smile afterwards. It contains potassium nitrate and by using a neutral pH bleach, this formula effectively inhibits sensitivity.No other system compares or comes even close for such tremendous results. Most in-office teeth whitening agents today take about an hour, for less dramatic effects, and result with many complaints of post treatment sensitivity.

Advantages of dental office teeth whitening 

Dental office teeth whitening advantages are :

• Achievement of the desired results in the shortest period of time; now in as little as 25 minutes.
• The safest form of teeth whitening; it is painless and non-invasive.
• Keeps under control gum and tooth sensitivity. This is achieved by using gels with a firm texture that is not easily absorbed in the gingival tissue. Also it contains potassium nitrate to inhibit sensitivity.Concentrated fluoride gel is applied onto the teeth after the whitening process to further eliminate sensitivity.