Instructions for Professional Teeth Whitening

Although there are over-the-counter products used to whiten the teeth at home, many people choose to have their teeth whitened professionally. Professional tooth whitening is performed by a certified dentist or dental assistant, and never by a salon or other non-dental clinic.

In-Office Teeth Whitening

• The dentist or dental assistant will give your teeth a prophylactic cleaning, which insures that they are free of any debris or plaque; a dental examination will follow. During the examination, your dentist will search for any tooth decay, cracks or signs of periodontal disease (gum disease). The teeth whitening process cannot proceed if these conditions are present. Once these conditions are corrected, or if they are not present, a photograph is taken of your teeth. This photo is compared to a shade guide that gives the dentist a benchmark for the whitening progress. During the procedure, the dentist places a cheek retractor in your mouth to expose all of the teeth that are visible when you smile; this portion of your teeth is called the "aesthetic zone." The dentist then applies a layer of liquid rubber (liquid rubber dam), or a hardening resin to your gums. This ensures that the products used during the whitening process do not irritate them.

  Next, your teeth are painted with bleaching gel. The bleaching gel contains hydrogen peroxide, which stays on your teeth anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes. When this time is up, the gel is washed away so a new layer can be applied; this new layer will also stay for 15 to 30 minutes. If you choose, you may have a high-powered blue light shined onto your teeth to enhance the whole whitening process. However, this is not necessary. After the removal of each layer of gel, your teeth are checked to see if more is needed.

  Once the results are achieved, the cheek retractors are taken out, your mouth is rinsed, and your teeth are checked against the shade chart. If your dentist finds that the results are not satisfactory, he will ask you to wear bleaching trays at home. These gel-filled plastic trays look very much like retainers. If bleaching trays are not a good option for you, he will ask you to return for further whitening. At the end of the bleaching process, your teeth will whiten two to eight shades out of 16 shades, according to Yourdentistryguide.com.