In-Office Teeth Whitening

There are a few methods to whiten teeth in-office: bleaching gel and laser treatment being the most common. At Bruce Dietman Family Dentistry, when in-office whitening is prescribed, it is with bleaching gel which is applied to the teeth using thin guard trays. (Dr. Dietman does not use laser treatment due to the degree of pain it can cause.)

The oxidizing agents in the bleaching gel Dr. Dietman uses for in-office whitening are much more powerful than those prescribed for home use. Because of this, it requires supervision by a dentist. The gel penetrates the enamel and oxidizes stain deposits; over a period of time, the dentin layer, lying underneath the enamel, is also bleached.

The effects of in-office bleaching can be seen immediately in many cases and last for several months, but may vary depending on the lifestyle of the patient. Factors which will decrease whitening include smoking and the ingestion of dark colored liquids like coffee, tea and red wine.