Whitening, also called bleaching, is a procedure that brightens  teeth that are discolored, stained  or  that  have darkened due to injury.  It may be done entirely in the dental office or your doctor  may dispense a system for you to use at home.

      In-office or chairside bleaching traditionally takes from 30 minutes to one hour per visit.  A chemical solution is applied to the teeth to lift out stains and discolorations.  A special light is used to help activate the  bleaching agent.  To complete  the process, multiple sessions one week apart may be required.

      With home-bleaching, your doctor will create a custom-fitting mouthguard that holds the whitening gel in place.  The amount of time per evening for which the nightguard is worn and the treatment duration will vary according to your needs.


Over the Counter Products:  

    There are many products that can be purchased over the counter at your local drugstore or through "as seen on TV" advertisements that claim to have the power to whiten teeth dramatically, although one must beware.  

    Studies often quoted  in these commercials refer to products that share the same active ingredient as dentists use.  However, although this may be the case, the dosages vary dramatically.  Most OTC products use hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide at a 10% concentration or less while only your doctor can prescribe and utilize it at higher concentrations - almost always a 35% solution.

    So although the active ingredient may be identical, the concentration and therefore the results will not be.  In addition the knowledge and expertise of your doctor and his ability to guide the whitening procedure specifically to your needs is invaluable.