Tooth bleaching
Tooth bleaching has become very popular in the
United States. It is easy, effective, and relatively inexpensive to have
done. Everyone wants whiter teeth.
Dr. David Hall, the author of this cosmetic
dentistry information site, was a pioneer in this procedure. He began
bleaching teeth in 1985. In 1991 he published his landmark
research, demonstrating that there was no advantage in
etching the teeth with acid prior to bleaching them, which helped open the
door to simpler tooth-whitening techniques.
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Home Tooth Bleaching
The most popular tooth bleaching technique involves
having a dentist make a clear plastic tray that you can wear inconspicuously
either during the day or at night. Bleaching gel is placed in this tray,
and, when it is given a period of time to soak into the teeth, it makes the
teeth whiter. The gel is kept on the teeth for several hours a day
for a week or two or more. The results of this treatment are dramatic, and
the longer the tray with the gel is worn, the whiter your teeth become.
The dentist will monitor your progress with short follow-up appointments.
While this technique requires training beyond
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what is taught in dental school, it isn't difficult for a general dentist to obtain the
training necessary to perform it adequately. For specialized situations,
is is probably best for a patient to see an expert cosmetic dentist, who
will have training in all of its ramifications and the special situations.
Advantages of tooth bleaching, compared with
other techniques (bonding or porcelain veneers) that can whiten your teeth:
 | This treatment is much more comfortable than getting
porcelain veneers or bonding. |
| It is less expensive than these other treatments. |
| Nothing artificial has to be bonded or attached to your teeth. |
| Bleaching makes your smile permanently whiter. |
| Maintaining maximum whiteness requires only minor touch-up treatments every
couple of years. |
| Teeth bleaching usually whitens quite noticeably, and you can control the results by how
diligent you are with the treatments. |
| You can continue to whiten as much as you like by purchasing refill kits of the gel.
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Disadvantages of bleaching as compared with bonding or porcelain veneers:
| With this treatment, it isn't possible to predict exactly how
white your teeth will become. |
| Since you are doing the treatment on your own, there is a potential for abuse by your not following
directions. |
| The results are dependent upon your home efforts. |
| Dark tetracycline-stained teeth can't be
bleached effectively to appear natural. |
Click here for more detailed information about the
teeth bleaching procedure.
There are many claims for whitening
toothpastes. Dr. Hall evaluates these claims.
What if you have fillings on your front teeth and you want to whiten them?
Will the fillings get whiter too? If not, how do you do that? For the
answer, see our page on
tooth whitening with fillings.
Click here for referral to an expert cosmetic dentist.
This information is provided for you by the mynewsmile.com cosmetic dentist
referral service, and was personally written by Dr. David Hall.
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The listings below are paid advertisements and should not be confused with the recommended dentists we list in our "find a cosmetic dentist" section:
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Learn more about cosmetic dentistry from
books you can purchase at America's Dental Bookstore. These are consumer-oriented books that help you know what
options are available to you. For the
dental professional, America's Dental Bookstore offers a wide selection of professional
books on every phase of
cosmetic dentistry. |
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