Tooth Whitening      

Our practice has received many questions concerning different methods used to whiten teeth.  The purpose of this page is to educate our patients about the differences between whitening methods.

There are two main methods to whiten or "bleach" teeth. 

The first is the tray method.  This method uses a thin clear flexible plastic tray.  The purpose of the tray is to apply a uniform layer of whitening agent to the enamel.  The trays are used at home 2 hours a day for 10 days.   

Advantages of the tray method:

- lower cost

- less discomfort while whitening

- less sensitivity after whitening

Disadvantages:

- teeth are not as white after the first day as with the heating light method.

The second method uses a light to heat up the bleaching agent. Examples of this method are ZoomÒ and BriteSmileÒ. This method uses two steps.  In the first step the patient is seated in the dental chair, their mouth is propped open, the teeth are coated with whitening agent, and the heating light is aimed at the front teeth for up to three hours.  The second step uses the trays as described above.

Advantages:

- Teeth are whiter after the first day compared to the tray method.

Disadvantages:

- higher cost

- mild to moderate discomfort during in-office treatment. 

- the whitening agent used in the office can burn the gums.

- increased chance of moderate to severe sensitivity after treatment. The use of pain medicine is often necessary after treatment.

- patient MUST wear bleaching trays for ten days after the treatment to receive optimum results; therefore, this method is no faster than the tray method. 

Research proves that there is NO DIFFERENCE in whitening effectiveness between the two methods.  Your teeth will get just as white using the tray method alone as they will using the heating light method.

Due to the facts above, it is easy to see that there is no real advantage, and several disadvantages, to using the heating light method to whiten teeth.  That is why we have decided that the tray method is the best method for whitening teeth.