people.jpg Jordan S. Sparks, DMD
503-363-5432
1462 Commercial St. SE
Salem, OR 97302
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Whitening

What Are My Options For Whitening?

-Over the counter products or professional products.

There are many over the counter products that claim to whiten teeth, but these have limited success because they are too weak and they do not hold the whitening agent against the tooth for a long enough period of time. The whitening available through a dentist is much more effective. Our office uses the standard whitening trays that are worn at night as well as an in-office treatment that gives you more immediate results.

How Do The Trays Work?

-A gel is placed in custom trays and worn at night.

Impressions are taken and used to make custom trays that are very close fitting and only cover the teeth. About a week later you will get the trays and enough whitening gel to whiten your teeth. We use a special whitening gel that causes less sensitivity than other brands. The 22% concentration is the strongest available. A very small drop of gel is placed in the tray for each tooth and then the trays are inserted into your mouth. Any excess gel is wiped off and then the trays are worn all night. You should see results after the first night, and after a week or two, the teeth should have reached the desired shade. The result will last for years and can easily be touched up every six months.

How Does The Gel Whiten The Teeth?

-Slow release hydrogen peroxide.

The active ingredient in the gel is carbamide peroxide, which slowly breaks down to release hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide oxidizes any dark organic compounds, but not the structure of the teeth. Teeth have a very low organic content, and are almost entirely mineral which is impervious to the oxidation.

Does It Harm The Teeth?

-No.

The only disadvantage is that since it does strip the surface of all the protective saliva, the teeth can become sensitive the next day until the saliva can work its way back into the microscopic pores. This also leaves the teeth more susceptible to getting stained the next day, so you would want to avoid coffee, berries, and other staining foods for a few days.

What About Sensitivity?

-It can usually be controlled.

Some people who have sensitive teeth can have a difficult time with the whitening process. Some options are to switch to a lower concentration of gel, use the gel less frequently, or use Sensodyne toothpaste and a fluoride rinse like Act.

How Much Does It Cost?

-The trays and gel cost $300.

-In-office whitening costs $500.

The standard whitening kit includes 2 syringes of gel which is enough to last 10 days. If you need more gel for the initial treatment, it is provided at no cost. The trays will be good for years if you take good care of them, so if you need more gel later, we sell it at our cost of $17 per tube. The in-office treatment includes the in-office whitening as well as take-home trays and 1 tube of gel.

Will It Whiten My Fillings?

-No.

Fillings and crowns are not affected by the whitening process, so some of them may need to be replaced if they are too dark.

What Is in-office Whitening?

-A new light activated gel.

In-office whitening is a much stronger concentration of hydrogen peroxide that is placed in the dental office for about an hour and a half. The gel cannot be allowed to touch the tissue, so the teeth are completely isolated while three 20 minute treatments are performed. A very strong light is aimed at the gel for the entire procedure to speed up the process. When finished, the teeth are multiple shades lighter and may continue to lighten for a few days. As part of your treatment, you are also given standard whitening trays and some gel in case you wish to touch up later. The stronger concentration of hydrogen peroxide does not cause any increase in sensitivity and does not damage the teeth.