Teeth whitening is the process of removing stains and discoloration from teeth and improving their color through a bleaching process to make them look whiter. For heavily stained teeth a significant improvement in their appearance can be achieved following a procedure as simple as a scale and polish from a dental hygienist.

Dr. Marill offers a combination of in office, immediate teeth whitening and professional take home whitening kits with custom made trays. Both procedures are based on a bleaching process which uses a peroxide based compound which varies in strength (3% to 30%). The higher the concentration of peroxide in the compound the more powerful the bleaching compound is. This means it is more effective at whitening the teeth but at the same time has a greater potential to cause damage to the surrounding gum tissue and your lips.

Protection of the gums and lips during the whitening
It is very important that your dentist isolates your gums and lips with a protective material in order to avoid any potential damage and burning of your soft tissues. It is for this reason that home whitening kits usually have a low concentration of peroxide e so there is less chance of any damage to your soft tissues at home. Although recently high strength home whitening kits that can be purchased online from certain stores have attracted media attention with horror stories of people with badly burnt lips and gums. Teeth whitening is a procedure that should be carried out under the supervision of a dentist.

Are there any side effects of tooth whitening?
Some people experience no pain or sensitivity with their teeth during tooth whitening. However, the majority of people will experience some kind of sensitivity either during and/or after the initial treatment. This is usually described by patients as sharp shooting pains (called Zingers) coming from your teeth. This should settle down after approximately 48 hours. Dr. Marill usually will give his patients a special gel to apply to your teeth to help quite down the sensitivity. It is advisable to avoid hot or cold food or drinks within the first 48 hours of your whitening treatment.

How much whiter will my teeth look?
This varies from individual to individual and also the type of whitening system used. Some people respond very well to teeth whitening and have dramatic results, whereas others may notice very little difference at all. Dr. Marill will be able to advise you on the likely results expected with your teeth.