The methods of tooth whitening have been classified into 3 broad categories. The first is the in-office type that is performed by the dentist in his clinic, second being the dentist-prescribed products where the dentist may prescribe certain bleaching products to the patient and shall monitor the patient at regular time intervals and finally the over-the-counter products, these may be chosen by the patient based on his preference.
In-Office Power Bleaching
The in-office bleaching procedure where the dentist applies a gel or a liquid on to your teeth to achieve bleaching is also known as power bleaching. Power bleaching uses concentrated bleaching agents and therefore is performed under the supervision of the dentist. The advantage of this procedure is that the procedure is performed under dentist supervision and the concentrated bleaching agent used ensures faster results. However, on the flip side, due to the concentrated bleaching agents used, there are more chances of hypersensitivity and tissue irritation.
During in-office bleaching, the dentist will apply a mask on your gums to protect them from the caustic effects of the bleaching agent. This is followed by application of the bleaching agent which are supplied in the form of gels. After application, the dentist will activate the gel using lasers or LED devices for a fixed time duration. Once the desired shade of teeth has been achieved the dentist will remove the gel. Subsequently, a fluoride gel is applied and the teeth polished. In certain cases, multiple appointments may be required to get the desired results.
Dentist-prescribed Bleaching
The dentist-prescribed home bleaching procedure is generally prescribed for patients with only mild stains. Here, the dentist used milder concentration of the bleaching agent. The disadvantage of this procedure lies in the fact that as it is not performed under direct dental supervision, there are greater chances of adverse reactions and unreliable results such as blotchy appearance of teeth and irritation to the gums.
During this procedure the dentist will fabricate a tray to hold a bleaching agent. The bleaching agent must then be dispensed in these trays and placed onto the teeth for a prescribed time duration followed by rinsing with water and a fluoride mouth wash.
In-Store / Over-The-Counter
There are a variety of over-the-counter bleaching options available. These include strips, trays and brushes and tooth pastes.
Strips
Whitening strips are one of the most common over-the-counter products available for tooth whitening. These are clear strips with a gel in between; the cover is peeled off and the strip with the gel is placed on the teeth. The strip should be kept in contact with the teeth for the time prescribed by the manufacturer.
The disadvantage of the strip system is that the strips can slide easily and have the potential to produce uneven whitening. There are also chances of irritation to the gums and are messy to work with.
Trays
The tray system contains a prefabricated tray which adapts well onto the teeth. They may or may not contain a gel in between. The tray can be worn for the time prescribed by the manufacturer and gives the best results among all the over-the-counter products.
The disadvantage with this system is that the tray may not adapt well to the teeth causing the gel to leak out resulting in soft tissue irritation.
Tooth Pastes
These pastes contain mild enzymes and only remove very mild stains. They should be used like normal tooth pastes twice daily.
