Bay Family Dental Care
					Teeth Whitening In Office or At Home
			Advanced dental techniques now provide consumers with              exciting, new options for enhancing their smiles.              Revolutionary methods are now available for bleaching teeth to              make smiles sparkle!              Tooth bleaching or whitening lightens the color of teeth              whether darkened from age, coffee, tea or tobacco. Its              brightening effects can last up to five years after the              treatment depending on your personal habits, such as smoking              or drinking coffee or tea.              Is Bleaching Right for You?              Tooth bleaching has a higher than 90% success rate. Tooth              Bleaching is tough on stains but gentle on your teeth! Results              vary depending on several factors such as teeth stained from              smoking; from taking certain medications such as tetracycline              during tooth development; or from fluorosis, a condition              occurring in the presence of too much fluoride.              Tooth Bleaching will not lighten fillings or artificial              materials used in dental repair as for crowns, porcelain              veneers, etc. Your dentist may discourage treatment if you              have sensitive teeth, periodontal disease, teeth with worn              enamel or if you're pregnant or breast-feeding.              Several Options Available              Depending on the tooth Bleaching treatment selected, some are              performed in the dental office using an in-office tooth              bleaching system such as laser bleaching. These methods              lighten teeth instantly.              The same results may be obtained more economically through              dentist-supervised at-home tooth bleaching, but take longer to              achieve. Some tooth bleaching systems, which bleach your teeth              while you sleep, work in 10 to 14 days (or more accurately              nights)! Others bleach your teeth from two to four hours a day              requiring three to six weeks to complete.              Also it's important to know that certain types of stain              respond better to different types of whitening materials. In              such cases, your dentist may recommend one method over the              other.              The Steps to a Bright Smile                Your dentist will first examine your teeth and gums and                discuss the procedure best suited to your individual needs.                Any cavities or gum problems must be treated before tooth                bleaching can begin.                                  The in-office method generally takes one to three hours and                results in an immediate noticeable change.                                  For the at-home tooth whitening products, special molds will                be made of your teeth;  these will be used to make                custom-fitting flexible trays holding the tooth bleaching                gel comfortably in your mouth.                                  When you get your tooth bleaching trays, you'll receive                instructions about wearing them. These must be carefully                followed. Only the tooth whitening product materials                provided by the dentist can be safely used.                                  After completing the treatment, your teeth will be checked                by your dental provider to discuss the results.                                  Smile. Your teeth will radiate a bright new look!              Safety              Research over the last five years has proven tooth whitening              products to be both safe and effective. The American Dental              Association's seal of approval has been given to a wide range              of tooth whitening products. Generally, the only side effect              from treatment may be some sensitivity to hot and cold foods.              If this occurs, sensitivity normally disappears within 48 hours.