Procedures performed in-office

Achieving outcomes of naturally beautiful teeth

Bleaching


Bleaching is a highly effective, conservative procedure which utilizes a strong oxidizing agent to lighten teeth. It is frequently used in cases where mild to moderate staining is present and tends to be most effective in teeth in a yellow or yellow-orange color range. It is effective in approximately 75% of selected cases. Bleaching can be done as either an in-office, at-home or a combination therapy. The compounds are either hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide, or sodium perborate solutions and range in concentrations.

Bleaching will only lighten natural tooth structure and will not change the color of porcelain or composite resin restorations. This fact can be either good or bad depending upon the situation. If you want your teeth to be lighter, but have color matched restorations, then you must be prepared to replace them after bleaching is completed. If on the other hand, you have restorations which are lighter than your natural teeth, bleaching can be an inexpensive alternative to replacing the restorations and frequently can make the crowns look much better. If you are planning on having any work done soon, make sure you tell your dentist you would like your teeth to be lightened PRIOR to restoring the teeth.

Many times bleaching is used in combination with other cosmetic techniques like microabrasion, bonding, or porcelain laminates to achieve an ideal result.

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