Largo Tooth Whitening

Dr. Amy Bonham is a dentist and has answered some of the common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Tooth Whitening.


Q. What is tooth whitening?

A. Tooth whitening refers to either the removal of surface stains with a toothpaste or mouth rinse, or it also refers to the process of bleaching the enamel with the use of Carbamide or Hydrogen peroxide.  Tooth bleaching can be done with over-the-counter whitening products, professional whitening trays or "in-office" whitening procedure.  In general, the difference is the strength of the whitening solution and the time it takes to achieve the desired results. 

Q. Who may benefit from teeth whitening? 

A. Patients with surface staining or who want a whiter smile may benefit from tooth whitening.  The results will vary between patients, but teeth with a more yellow shade of color usually have better results.

Q. Who are not recommended to undergo teeth whitening?
 
A. Patients with lots of fillings, crowns, veneers or other dental work done, especially in the front teeth may not be recommended to whiten, as these materials will not whiten.  Patients with untreated dental decay or infection are not recommended to whiten, as well as patients with enamel erosion or very sensitive teeth already.  Finally, patients with extremely dark staining may not be recommended to whiten due to the possible poor results.

Q. What does tooth whitening involve?

A. Every patient must have a complete exam done by the dentist, if they are a new patient to the office, before undergoing tooth whitening.  It is also recommended that the patient has his teeth cleaned before whitening, if it has been a while since his last cleaning. The appointment involves taking pre-treatment photographs and obtaining an original shade of the teeth.  The gums are then isolated.  A desensitizing enhancer is applied to the front teeth for 1 minute.  Then the whitening gel (35% Hydrogen peroxide with 1.1% Sodium Fluoride) is applied to the front teeth and a Sapphire light is placed in front of the teeth for a 20 minute session.  The process is then repeated for two more 20 minute sessions or until the desired shade is achieved.  Finally, a final tooth shade is taken, as well as post-treatment photographs.  Take-home whitening trays may be made for the patient, if further whitening is desired.  During the appointment, the patient is able to listen to music, watch television or choose from a wide selection of DVD’s to watch.  The patient can also choose to have a hand-waxing treatment done during the appointment.

Q. How long does this take?

A. The actual whitening procedure takes 1 hour, but the entire appointment usually lasts about 1 ½ hours.

Q. How much does tooth whitening cost?

A. Professional whitening can cost from around $200.00 for professional whitening trays to around $600.00 for "in-office" whitening procedure. 

Q. What are the side effects? 

A. Tooth whitening may result in temporary tooth sensitivity, that if occurs, usually only lasts a couple of weeks.

Q. How to contact Dr. Bonham if we have further questions?    

A.
Address:
12720 Ulmerton Road
Largo, FL 33774-3601
Phone: 727-493-4018
Email:alvin@bonhamdental.com
Website: http://bonhamdental.com/