Tray teeth whitening: Questions to ask your dentist about teeth bleaching.

One of the most obvious questions that you should ask your dentist about teeth bleaching is simply: Is at-home tray teeth whitening is an appropriate approach for my specific situation? Case selection is an important factor in the successful outcome of an at-home teeth whitening process.

Based on their knowledge and experience your dentist can explain to you what type of whitening result can realistically be expected. They can also advise you about the side effects that you may experience during your treatment. In those cases where they do not think at-home bleaching is appropriate, your dentist can make suggestions regarding other types of dental treatment that could be used to help you obtain the cosmetic changes that you seek.

Before you begin the whitening process you absolutely must discuss with your dentist what dental work will be required after the bleaching process has been completed. Remember, only your teeth will whiten, not your existing dental work.

You also need to realize that the whitening you do achieve will not last forever. Typically, as months and years pass, there is a need for "touch up" whitening. Just so you are aware of your dentist's policy, you should ask them about the cost associated with this touch up work.

Will performing teeth whitening treatments affect the needed timing of my other dental work?

Performing teeth whitening treatments can interfere with some dental procedures. When dental work is scheduled you should ask your dentist if either your current or future whitening activities might influence the needed timing of that treatment. Here are some examples where it might.

• When dental restorations that involve cosmetic concerns are placed it is important that all whitening treatments have already been terminated. It is impossible for a dentist to match the shade of teeth in the process of being whitened because the precise color end point can never be known in advance.
  
  
• For the most part, teeth whitening treatments will not change the color of existing dental work. And for this reason all teeth whitening activities must be completed before new dental restorations are placed. Otherwise, after the whitening treatments have been completed the color of the new dental work will no longer match.
  
  
• Teeth whitening treatments can inhibit the formation of the bond created when dental bonding technique is used. This technique is utilized when a dentist places white fillings and porcelain veneers. The general consensus is that a dentist should wait at least one week after whitening treatments have been terminated before they place any bonded restorations. Some dentists feel more comfortable with a two to three week wait period.
  
  
• Once whitening treatments have been completed the shade of the teeth that have been lightened will typically undergo some relapse as their color stabilizes. Typically this effect takes place within two weeks. For this reason, any dental procedure involving the cosmetic appearance of a person's teeth should be postponed until at least two weeks after they have terminated their whitening treatments.

Why are 10% carbamide peroxide whiteners recommended rather than ones having a higher concentration?

Over the years the use of a whitener having a 10% carbamide peroxide concentration has become the unofficial standard for tray-based teeth whitening technique. Here are some of the reasons why and also why it should still be considered to be the most prudent choice.

• Tray-based teeth whitening technique, as first described in dental literature in 1989, outlined the use of a 10% carbamide peroxide whitener. Because of this precedence, the majority of research studies that subsequently followed also focused on this same whitener concentration. As a result, the positive reputation that tray teeth whitening holds for safety and effectiveness is primarily based on evaluations of this technique in regards to the use of a 10% carbamide peroxide whitener
  
  
• One primary factor taken into consideration when trying to predict the potential a patient will have for experiencing side effects is the concentration of the tooth whitener. High concentration whiteners are associated with a greater risk of side effects than lower ones.
  
  
• Higher concentration whiteners can be expected to produce a faster initial color improvement (although sometimes at the expense of creating an initial uneven whitening effect). However, when evaluated over the entire course of treatment both 10% carbamide peroxide whiteners and those with a higher concentration can be expected to produce the same end results.