Side Effects of Professional Dental Whitening

Professional dental whitening is a popular and effective way to obtain a whiter smile. In-office as well as professionally supervised at-home whitening treatments usually provide quicker and more dramatic results than over the counter products. However, a few minor side effects are associated with each type of professional whitening.

Basic In-Office Whitening Treatment

• During a basic in-office whitening treatment, the dentist protects the tissues of the patient's mouth with a rubber dental dam and topical gel before applying a peroxide-based whitening agent to the teeth. The whitening agent used by dentists is much stronger than products designed for home use, and can cause some irritation or burning of the gums during the whitening process. Patients may also experience temporary sensitivity to the teeth or gums both during and after whitening.

In-Office Whitening Treatments Using Lasers

• Some dental professionals offer in-office whitening treatments that use a special light source or laser in combination with a light-activated whitening agent. Laser whitening treatments tend to be quicker than traditional in-office bleaching; however, the side effects may be more intense. Temporary irritation, discomfort or pain may be experienced by some patients, as well as temporary tooth sensitivity.

Professionally Supervised At-Home Whitening

• At-home whitening treatments use a safe, professional-grade whitening gel and plastic whitening trays custom-made for the patient. Results are more gradual than those of in-office treatments, but the side effects are generally less intense. Some patients experience temporary tooth sensitivity after whitening at home, and slight, temporary lightening of the gums may occur if excess whitening gel is used.

Professional Whitening vs. Side Effects of Over-the-Counter Products

• All types of dental whitening procedures can cause tooth sensitivity, including over-the-counter products like whitening strips or trays. The side effects of professional dental whitening can have a higher risk of temporary tooth and gum sensitivity, as well as temporary discomfort during the whitening process for some patients. However, the slight increase of possible side effects is accompanied by faster, more dramatic, and possibly longer lasting results than those achieved by over-the-counter products.