Missouri City Tooth Whitening

Dr. Dwight D. Peccora is a dentist and has answered some common questions bizymoms visitors have about Tooth Whitening.


Q. What is tooth whitening?

A. With our expertise in cosmetic services, we can completely change the look of your smile or simply enhance the one you have. This can be done by something as simple as an in-office bleaching procedure to something more complex such as porcelain veneers. We can lighten the enamel color, close gaps, cover cracks and exposed roots, cosmetically straighten crooked teeth and cover stains.

Q. Who may benefit from tooth whitening?

A. Most of us start out with sparkling white teeth, thanks to their porcelain-like enamel surface. Composed of microscopic crystalline rods, tooth enamel is designed to protect the teeth from the effects of chewing, gnashing, trauma and acid attacks caused by sugar. But over the years enamel is worn down, becoming more transparent and permitting the yellow color of dentin – the tooth’s core material – to show through.

During routine chewing, dentin remains intact while millions of micro-cracks occur in the enamel. It is these cracks, as well as the spaces between the crystalline enamel rods, that gradually fill up with stains and debris. As a result, the teeth eventually develop a dull, lackluster appearance.

Teeth whitening removes the stains and debris, leaving the enamel cracks open and exposed. Some of the cracks are quickly re-mineralized by saliva, while others are filled up again with organic debris.

Q. Who are not recommended to undergo tooth whitening?

A.
1.     Any teeth that have active decay (cavities) must be treated prior to bleaching.

2.     Any restorations (crowns, fillings, etc) that have been previously placed will not change in color during bleaching, so may be hard to match or can be replaced for esthetic appeal.

3.     Areas of gingival recession around some teeth may show some of the

Q. What does tooth whitening involve?

A. There are two main options for bleaching:

In Office Bleaching:

37% Hydrogen Peroxide based bleaching agents used for 2-3 15 minute sessions in the office followed by 3 days of home bleaching.

At Home Bleaching:

15-20% Carbamide Peroxide based bleaching agents used for 2-4 hours/ night for 2 weeks.

Q. How long does this take? (See above plus below)

A. It will take approximately 2 weeks of consistent bleaching before you will begin to notice the full effects of bleaching. If you are pregnant or nursing, it is generally recommended to avoid teeth whitening due to unknown effects of bleach components on the fetus or even the potential of additional irritation to soft tissues (gingiva) that are normally rather inflamed and irritated during pregnancy due to hormonal side effects. 

Q. How much does tooth whitening cost?

A.

In office Whitening - $450.00 ($100/arch)

At Home Whitening - $200.00 ($100/arch)

Q. What are the side effects?

A. Teeth whitening treatments are considered to be safe when procedures are followed as directed. However, some risks are associated with bleaching:

Sensitivity: Bleaching can cause a temporary increase in sensitivity. Sensitivity is usually specific to temperature changes with foods or drinks or even to pressure on your teeth including biting sensitivity for some time. The greatest risk are patients that have notable amounts of gum recession where portions of the tooth root structure is showing or if patients have faulty restorations or fractures in their teeth. Although this sensitivity is typically noted for about 1-2 days post-bleaching, it is still something to be prepared for. Some dentists will even consider desensitizing tooth pastes for patients prior to and after bleaching.

Gum irritations: It is common to see some degree of minor irritation to the gum tissue (gingiva) due to bleach concentrations from bleaching. This type of irritation usually resides within a week of no longer using the bleaching agents.

Q. How can we contact Dr. Peccora if we have further questions?

A. Feel free to contact Fort Bend Dental directly for further questions or appointment options with Dr. Peccora at 281-499-3541 or at dpeccora@ftbenddental.com