One of the most common cosmetic procedures we perform is tooth whitening. There seems to be a lot of confusion amongst patients about what it is and how it works.

Basically a whitening agent is applied to the tooth which acts on the proteins in the surface of the tooth which cause the tooth to discolour. These proteins are chemically de-linked and this results in a whiter tooth!

The principle is simple, the stronger the whitening agent the faster, deeper and better it works. Here is an analogy you can think of. You can go to the drugstore and get an aspirin, good for a minor discomfort, or you can get an extra strength Advil for mild pain. A prescription for Tylenol 3 will take care of some moderate to severe pain or the Doctor can give you a shot of morphine for major pain!

Whitening is similar. You can buy white strips from the drug store..like an aspirin, you can get a liquid tray system from an outside source, (we don't recommend this as you often swallow the chemical...can't be good!) you can go to the dentist and have a customized tray made to hold the whitening agent in the right place, (but a little bit of a hassle because you have to wear the tray for a number of hours over a long period of time) or you can go to the ultimate which is in office Laser Whitening, where the concentrated whitening agent is applied under strictly controlled circumstances and in 3 - 15 minute bursts the teeth are WHITE! Then in our office just to make sure we maximize the treatment, we supply you with the at home trays for immediate follow up and touch ups which may be desired a year or two down the road!

Remember there are restrictions, old fillings will not change colour and often need to be replaced, some colours of teeth whiten more than others and there are dietary restrictions during every whitening process.

Please ask us if you are a good candidate for tooth whitening.

For frequently asked questions about teeth whitening click here.