Teeth Whitening Questions

San Antonio, Texas

Q: What tooth whitening choices do I have?
A: There are different ways to whiten and brighten your teeth. The two main choices are at-home teeth whitening and having it done professionally at a cosmetic dentist's office. We, of course, recommend the latter.

Q: What is "chair-side" bleaching?
A: Chair-side teeth bleaching can be done one of two ways. Cosmetic dentist Dr. Hale will clean your teeth with a pumice-like material to remove plaque and clean the surface of your teeth. Then a peroxide-based gel is applied. Most gels are self-activating; others are activated by the use of a curing light. The laser, itself, does not whiten the teeth. It only activates the bleaching gel and initiates a chemical reaction that produces the teeth whitening effect. Two of most popular chair-side whitening tools are Britesmile and Zoom!

Q: Is tooth whitening safe?
A: Research indicates that teeth whitening shows no changes to the surface of the tooth when 10% bleaching solution is used. There is no damage to the tooth whatsoever.

Q: Are there side effects?
A: Bleaching gels do cause some tooth sensitivity, which can cause discomfort. Some brands of bleaching gel contain desensitizing agents that claim to alleviate post-bleaching sensitivity. Using a desensitizing toothpaste like Sensodyne (or any other toothpaste containing potassium nitrate as the active ingredient) will help.

Q: How long does the tooth whitening process take?
A: Immediately after bleaching, the color of your teeth will typically fade and then remain stable for approximately six months to a year. For maintenance purposes, it is recommended that you touch up your smile every 4-6 months.

Q: I have porcelain veneers. Will bleaching make them whiter?
A: Carbamide Peroxide is the primary active ingredient or bleaching agent in the professional teeth whitening gel. It is essentially a variation of hydrogen peroxide. Combined with the unique adherence properties of the specially formulated gel, it provides the chemical reaction required to safely whiten your teeth.

To learn more about how your teeth are whitened, please contact our teeth whitening cosmetic dentist Dr. Hale’s office in San Antonio, Texas today to schedule your teeth whitening initial appointment.