Whitening
Over time, teeth can undergo natural colour changes. There may be several causes including food and beverage staining, smoking, trauma or certain medications. There are several options to whiten teeth. Typically in our office we recommend either custom bleaching take-home trays, or whitening strips from the drugstore. Take-home trays have the advantage of a more custom fit for your teeth, allowing the bleach solution to contact the teeth more evenly. In addition, once the trays are made, you can continue to re-use them for touch-up treatments in years to come, as long as there are no major changes to your dental work.
The peroxide used in dental whitening products can cause increased tooth sensitivity. Before starting any tooth whitening, Drs. Black or Itagawa will consult with the patient to ensure there is no decay, open filling margins, infection of gum disease. Bleaching will only whiten natural tooth enamel. It will not alter the colour of fillings, veneers, crowns or dentures. This consultation is an opportunity to discuss expectations, the pros and cons of whitening, and to determine the best course of action for the patient.