for the Whiter, Brighter Smile You Have Always Wanted...
How Does It Work?
The whitening systems we recommend are unbelievably effective and easy.
The primary ingredient is Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) in a gel format. Once exposed to your teeth, the peroxide releases oxygen which diffuses through your enamel to oxygenate the proteins inside your teeth. This bond is stable and changes how your teeth reflect light, making them whiter and brighter. The remainder of the peroxide is reduced to plain water once the oxygen atom has been released.
The key to this whole program is exposure time. The peroxide needs time to release the oxygen, time for the oxygen to move into your teeth, and time to bond to the proteins.
Do You Want Whiter Teeth?
For the last 20 years, whitening procedures have been refined and perfected to be safe, predictable and economical. Today we have 2 methods available, home-based and laser whitening.
What Causes Teeth to Darken?
Many things can darken teeth. Aging, coffee, tea, cola, tobacco, spices, nerve damage, old fillings and trauma are most of the common causes. Antibiotics like tetracycline and minocycline also causes teeth to discolour.
Who Can Benefit From Whitening?
Almost anyone.
Dr. Stanleigh must first do a thorough examination and diagnosis to ensure you are a good candidate for a safe, whiter, brighter smile.
There are two ways we can use the whitening gel:
Home Based Whitening
In this system we fabricate custom plastic trays to precisely fit your teeth. We then give you a whitening gel with a low (11% to 16%) concentration of peroxide, in a glycol base, that is placed in the tray, and the tray in your mouth. This delivers the oxygen to your teeth without exposing your gums and soft tissues to the peroxide.
You then wear the trays for 60 minutes daily for 2 to 3 weeks. This can be done during the day (watching the news or your favourite show) or while you are sleeping.
Laser Whitening
Some people do not have the discipline to apply trays of whitening gel to their teeth every day. Other people, like Dr. Stanleigh, cannot tolerate trays in their mouth for very long. For these people, we have in-office laser whitening.
In this method, we use a higher concentration of peroxide (35%) that is activated by the laser to speed up the oxygenation. To do this, we require two 60 to 90 minute visits in our office about one week apart. And that?s it. Because it is labour intensive, laser whitening is usually double the cost of home-based whitening.
What About Side Effects?
The oxygenation process is completely safe. Your teeth are not weakened nor is the strength of your enamel effected. The most common side effects include cold and air sensitivity, sore gums, sore throat and upset stomach. The sensitivity goes away 2 to 3 days after the whitening is finished, and the other side effects are from using too much peroxide which is then swallowed.
What About Over-The-Counter Products
Crest has now come out with a good product called "whitestrips". This product contains the same ingredient as our professional whitening products, but at a lower concentration. Sometimes the strips are difficult to manipulate, and their lower concentration makes the result last only a few weeks, it is still a good product, and a lower cost entry into the cosmetic dentistry world.
- They remove stain by using abrasives. Over time, this will remove your enamel making your teeth permanently yellow.
- They remove stains chemically by using baking soda. Effective only if you have mild surface stains. Deeper stains are not affected.
- They contain peroxide. However, research has proven that they do not alter your tooth colour at all due to the short exposure time of brushing.
Safe, Effective, Predictable
Whether it is home-based or laser whitening, both methods are equally effective.
The results are fabulous, and they are safe, effective and predictable.
Give your mouth a party and ask us to begin whitening your teeth today!