Does whitening/bleaching harm my teeth?
Tooth whitening/bleaching is one of the most conservative and cost-effective dental treatments to improve or enhance a person’s smile, but it is not completely risk-free. Current data indicates that whitening treatments in the dental office or at home may cause short-term tooth sensitivity and/or gum irritation, especially when using stronger concentrations of peroxide. Therefore, it is best performed under professional supervision following a consult and diagnosis. Supervised in-office bleachings or professional home treatments allow for better management of adverse effects and reduce the risks of using inferior products, inappropriate applications, and product misuse. At Dolce Dental, we use a laser whitening procedure which allows for a much shorter treatment time which also means less sensitivity and less changes to the enamel structure.
Patients considering drug-store products should also have a dental exam and understand that they could be purchasing products that have little or no beneficial effect on changing the color of their teeth and yet have the potential to cause harm. Tooth bleaching works best on superficial stains. Certain conditions, among which include internal discolorations, tooth/enamel cracks, exposed root surfaces, translucency, and defects in tooth form or anatomy, may be resistant to the whitening process and result in inappropriate over-treatment and unnecessary damage due to unrealistic patient expectations.
We are happy to offer a complimentary whitening consult to discuss whether you are a good candidate for whitening.
Patients considering drug-store products should also have a dental exam and understand that they could be purchasing products that have little or no beneficial effect on changing the color of their teeth and yet have the potential to cause harm. Tooth bleaching works best on superficial stains. Certain conditions, among which include internal discolorations, tooth/enamel cracks, exposed root surfaces, translucency, and defects in tooth form or anatomy, may be resistant to the whitening process and result in inappropriate over-treatment and unnecessary damage due to unrealistic patient expectations.
We are happy to offer a complimentary whitening consult to discuss whether you are a good candidate for whitening.