Of course you can!  That is the great things about dental technology today.  In the past it would take weeks if not months before you got the desired shade of whiteness you were after.  Even though those methods are still very popular and in use today, key dental advancements now allow you to get your teeth whitened in 1-hour or less.

It’s called Laser Tooth Whitening.

This procedure can only be done in our dental office.  There is no over the counter tooth whitening that is capable of acheiving the same results as laser tooth whitening.

With laser bleaching a dentist applies a peroxide solution to your teeth and then uses light or a laser to accelerate the whitening process. It takes approximately 1 hour to complete the procedure. The process involves no additional at home treatment.

Laser tooth whitening has a satisfaction rate of about 93%. The long-term results depend primarily on the individual. Certain habits, such as using tobacco products, drinking coffee, tea, dark soft drinks, and infrequent visits to the dentist may lessen results. As long as you receive regular professional care and use professional after care products (whitening paste, etc.) you should be able to maintain results for a period of 1-2 years.

Laser tooth whitening is safe and will not soften enamel or existing fillings. The main ingredient in the gel that’s used during the process is hydrogen peroxide. Dentists have used hydrogen peroxide solutions to whiten teeth for years. The percentage of hydrogen peroxide used in laser tooth whitening is 15%. This mixture is considered safe for all gum types and does not produce sensitivity.

Advantages: Results last longer than any other method. There’s no follow up treatments required afterwards, and the procedure is done within 1-2 hours.

Disadvantages: The price is more expensive then tray whitening. You can expect to pay between $300 to $700 to get your teeth whitened. And although bleaching can be effective on very yellow or gray teeth, the results are better if you’re trying to remove stains rather than lighten naturally gray teeth. You may also experience more sensitivity with laser bleaching then tray bleaching.

Difference Between Laser Tooth Whitening and Non-Laser Tooth Whitening

Laser Tooth Whitening
The laser wavelength ouput is synchronized to the proprietary whitening gel, which increases efficiency and minimizes the amount of energy required to produce maximum whitening.
This results in shortened treatment time and increases effectiveness while eliminating the heating of teeth that can reslut in post-operative sensitivity.

Non-Laser Tooth Whitening
Ordinary non-laser tooth whitening systems require longer treatment times and higher energy output becaesu of their inefficiencies.  Non-laser whitening
devices use just a tiny percentage of the polychromatic light’s energy.  The rest of the energy is wasted as heat and light, which is absorbed by the teeth and adjaceent tissue,
which often results in intra-operative and opost-operative sensitivity.

Average chair time for Laser Tooth Whitening Systems treatment versus lamp whitening systems:
Laser Whitening Systems 1-2 hours average chair time
Ordinary Non-Laser Whitening Systems average chair time is 2-3 hours.

Is the process safe?
Yes, tooth whitening with the Crystal laser is today the safest procedure. The special Opalescence Tooth Whitening system has been specifically developed and tested to ensure that no harm is done to either enamel or dentine and that the PH level is neutral and will not produce any acidic effect associated with some other whitening products.

Will the procedure hurt?
In general this a very simple procedure where no anesthesia is needed as no pain is experienced. However, serveral patients may experince minor sensitivity during or following the procedure. This sensitivity lasts no more than a couple of hours and it can be resolved by taking an analgesic.

What causes discolered teeth?
There are many causes of tooth discoloration such as hereditary factors, external causes, such as consumption of staining substances, or internal causes such as trauma, fluorosis and tetracycline discoloration.

Is the treatment suitable for everyone?
Basically Laser Tooth Whitening treatment is suitable for anyone who wishes to lighten his/her tooth color. Nevertheless, prior to the treatment, a dental examination will determine whether or not there is any condition that might prevent the treatment from working as it should. In such an event the dentist will recommend to undergo the relevant procedure before beginning the tooth whitening treatment.

How white will the teeth get?
Tooth whitening with the Opalescence Crystal Laser have achieved better results than any other procedure effected with argon and CO2 lasers. However, during consultation the dentist will go over the patient’s personal expectations and individual clinical situation in order to achieve the optimum natural whiteness. In most cases you will experience 5-10 shades whiter.

How long will the process take?
The whitening process with the Opalescence Crystal Whitening system will take 1-2 hours.

How long will the teeth remain white?
The long-term effect of the treatment varies from one person to another. Clearly, Certain habits such as smoking, drinking coffee, tea and wine, or neglect of regular cleansing could once again quicken the darkening process of the teeth.  Assuming regular care is provided (including dental check-ups), teeth can remain white for as long as 1-2 years or more.

Will the treatment have any effect on existing crowns/veneers/bonds?
Generally speaking it is impossible to change the color of the caps, veneers or bonds with tooth whitening treatment. However, the treatment may remove stains from crowns, veneers and bonded teeth.

Are you ready to get your teeth White?

Of course you are, give us a call at 916-721-3368 and we’ll be glad to schedule your teeth whitening appoinment and get you on your way to having sparkling white teeth!

Tags: bleaching, laser teeth whitening, one hour teeth whitening, Tooth Whitening, tooth whitening systems

This entry was posted on Monday, January 28th, 2008 at 3:19 pm and is filed under Cosmetic Dentistry Questions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.