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Bleaching in the Dentist's Office

Your dentist may suggest that you could bleach your teeth. This process changes the actual color of your tooth enamel, rather than just acting on the surface of your teeth. This is only for those who have yellowing or discoloration on their teeth from natural causes, and will not work for those who have had fillings or bonds done on their front teeth. This procedure may not work as well if your tooth discoloration is brownish or greyish – this works best on teeth which have gone yellowish.

For those who have had work done on their front teeth, and that work has discolored, you may want to ask about applying a porcelain veneer, or some other way of whitening that part of your teeth, or after the bleaching, you will have very white teeth, and large brownish or yellowish blocks wherever the filling or other work was. Your dentist can prescribe you a home based bleaching program that you can do in the comfort of your home quite easily. Some of these products are also available as over the counter products, although you should always ask your dentist’s advice first.

Bleaching can also be done by your dentist in your dentist’s office. This is called in-chair bleaching, probably because all you do is sit in the dentist’s chair for 30 minutes or up to an hour while bleach sits on your teeth. You may need to go more than once.

There are many different possible bleaching agents your dentist could use. Be sure and ask the dentist which one they plan on using, and if it has been approved by your country’s dental association. The bleaching agent is usually a form of peroxide, either carbamide or hydrogen peroxide, and while it is sitting on your teeth, it breaks down, releasing oxygen, which goes into your enamel and whitens your teeth.

The dentist will use something to protect your gums and the soft tissue in your mouth from the bleaching agent. Either they will apply a soft gel to your gums, or they will use a rubber shield to cover and protect the rest of your mouth. They will then apply the bleaching agent to your front teeth. The dentist may also use a bleaching paste, which they will apply and remove several times in succession.

Bleaching treatments may weaken your tooth enamel. This can be mitigated by fluoride treatments which your dentist may add to the whitening paste or gel.

The effects of bleaching may not last forever. New layers of staining can build up over the newly whitened teeth. You should be sure to follow up the bleaching by carefully following your dentist’s recommendations for keeping your teeth white and pearly.