Dr. Dan Rairigh is a dentist and who has answered some of the common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Teeth Whitening.
Q. What is tooth whitening?
A. Tooth whitening is the procedure of using chemical means to remove internal and external stains, thus "whitening" teeth to a more healthy and youthful appearance. Common sources of discoloration includes: coffee, tea, tobacco, wines, foods, and medicines ( such as tetracycline). Through the use of over-the-counter in-office methods whitening techniques can reverse these discolorations. The chemicals used are typically various concentrations of carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide. The techniques for whitening teeth can include the following: over the coutner Crest Whitestrips, customized taken home trays, in- office whitening under a light such as "ZOOM" or "Sapphire", and a combination of take home and in office techniques. My personal experience shows the best long term result to be a combination method of in office under a light and take home trays.
Q. Who may benefit from teeth whitening?
A. Most patients who wish to have a more youthful smile are candidates for tooth whitening. Some patients just want the teeth to appear naturally brighter, while others want that "Hollywood" look.
Q. Who are not recommended to undergo teeth whitening?
A. Some patients who do not make good candidates for whitening are pregnant and lactating women or children under the age of 16. Children 16 and under have relatively large dental pulps which can be adversely affected by the whitening procedure. Also, patients who have had fillings or crowns in the cosmetic area may not be candidates due to the fact that whitening doesn’t affect old restorations colors.
Q. What does tooth whitening involve?
A. Tooth whitening can be as simple as buying a box of Crest Whitestrips or having a consult with their dentist. A consult is usually a good idea because often patients are unaware of smaller white fillings they had done years ago that will not be affected by whitening. This doesn’t prevent the possibility of whitening teeth, but patients should be aware that some fillings or crowns "may" need to be replaced after the whitening is completed. In office whitening can involve an hour or so appointment where the whitening is carefully applied to the teeth by a professional and an activating light is then placed in front of your teeth. Also, sometimes impressions are taken to allow custom trays to be made. These trays work great because they allow the bleach to be placed very precisely avoiding gums and allow the even placement over teeth that are misaligned.
Q. How long does this take?
A. The length of treatment varies based on the technique and concentration of material. Typically over the counter products are 2- 3 weeks of treatment as well as for custom trays. A single in office session can be 30 min to an hour.
Q. How much does tooth whitening cost?
A. The cost of tooth whitening also depends upon the technique used. Usually over the counter products are $50-75 and can remove some surface staining. Custom trays can vary in cost from $200-450 and can give impressive results. In office 1 hour sessions can range from $200-450 as well and can make an improvement in a short time. The best overall technique in my opinion is the combination of in office light treatment, as well as take home custom trays. This can vary from $450-$800 depending on the number of treatments in office and the number of syringes for that particular case. The combination technique can provide dramatic rersults with a built in maintenance program that can give a long lasting youthful smile.
Q. What are the side effects?
A. The side effects in most instances are short lived, typically 1-3 days. Typically, sensitivity to cold is the biggest complaint. As teeth are whitened the stains in the small "tubes" in your teeth are removed. These small openings are for the air to pass through giving cold sensiitivity. After whitening is completed, the sensitivity passes after a couple days. During the whitening process Ibuprofen works great to limit the sensitivity. If patients have gum loss the exposed roots may also be a little sensitive. If a patient has older tooth colored fillings or crowns their darker color could stand out drastically in comparison to the newly whitened teeth. This may necessitate new fillings or crowns. If instructions are not followed it is possible to cause nerve damage or loss of enamel. However, this is extraordinarily rare if routine instructions are followed. Also, if a patient uses improperly made trays or non custom trays the gel may leak onto cheeks, gums, or lips causing short term burns. With well made custom trays this is very rare.
Q. How to contact Dr. Rairigh if we have further questions?
A. Questions about tooth whitening can be answered by contacting Dr. Rairigh at rairigh@pittsburghissmiling.com or by phone 412.854.2310.
