Teeth Whitening Questions
Beverly Hills & Los Angeles, California
1. What tooth whitening choices do I have?
There are different ways to whiten and brighten your teeth. The two main choices are at-home tooth whitening and in-office professional teeth whitening in a cosmetic dentist office. Cosmetic dentist Dr. Kevin B. Sands, Beverly Hills cosmetic dentists has professionally whitened the teeth of thousands of patients in and around Beverly Hills and Los Angeles.
2. What is Chair-Side bleaching?
Chair-side bleaching can be done one of two ways. Dr. Sands will clean your teeth with a pumice-like material to remove plaque and clean the surface of your teeth. Then a peroxide-based gel is applied. Most gels are self-activating; others are activated by the use of a curing light. The laser, itself, does not whiten the teeth. It only activates the bleaching gel and initiates a chemical reaction that produces the whitening effect. Our most popular professional tooth whitening product is BriteSmile.
3. Is tooth whitening safe?
Research indicates that tooth whitening shows no changes to the surface of the teeth when 10% bleaching solution is used. There is no damage to the tooth whatsoever.
4. What are the side effects?
Bleaching gels do cause some tooth sensitivity, which may cause very mild discomfort. Some brands of bleaching gel contain desensitizing agents that claim to alleviate post-bleaching sensitivity. Using a desensitizing toothpaste like Sensodyne will help minimize discomfort.
5. How long does the tooth whitening process take?
Immediately after bleaching, the color of your teeth will typically fade and then remain stable for approximately six months to a year. For maintenance purposes, it is recommended that you touch up your smile every 4-6 months.
6. Will teeth whitening make my porcelain veneers whiter?
All bleaching agents used to whiten teeth will only work on natural tooth structure. This means that all dental work including but not limited to bonding, veneers, crowns and bridges will not bleach or whiten. All dental work would need to be replaced to match the newly whitened teeth.
If you would like to have your teeth whitened and you live in the Beverly Hills area, please contact our tooth whitening specialist today to schedule your initial appointment.
