Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening or teeth bleaching is a common, effective, low cost way to brighten your smile. We offer several teeth whitening options at our office.
Custom Teeth Whitening Trays
The most requested teeth whitening procedure at our office involves Dr. Albers making custom trays used to apply a special bleach to the teeth. To start this process, a patient comes to our office for impressions. From the impressions, Dr. Albers prepares custom trays that fit over the teeth and are unique to that patient. At a return appointment, patients place the trays over their teeth (upper and lower) to make sure they fit correctly and comfortably.
Before they leave, patients receive beaching gel to place in the trays before using them at home. We have different concentrations of bleaching gel available. Typically, the stronger the bleach, the less time a patient needs to wear the trays to see results. Some patients, though, find that the stronger gels tend to irritate their gums and/or their teeth, and therefore are more comfortable using weaker strength gels. We tailor each procedure to the needs of the individual patient.
Single Use Bleaching Trays
We also offer our patients the option of using pre-made, single use bleaching trays. These trays come pre-packaged with 10 sets trays and use a prescription strength bleaching gel. The trays are a thin film with bleaching gel already in them. Typically, a patient will use an upper and lower tray in the evening for 30-45 minutes, at which point they remove the trays and throw them away. Patients use new trays on consecutive nights until their teeth reach their desired shade. While not as precise as custom teeth whitening trays, this system is a good, cost effective option for many patients.
Chair-side Bleaching
A third option for teeth whitening is a chair-side bleaching. Here, a patient comes in for one visit and Dr. Albers applies a strong gel to the teeth after taking measures to protect the gums. This is the most expensive of the procedures we offer, but sometimes, patients want a quicker result than they can get from using bleaching trays.
We pride ourselves on working with each patient to find a solution that best serves that patient’s unique situation. Dr. Albers and his staff welcome questions about this minimally invasive cosmetic dental procedure. Mouth Healthy, a website maintaining by the American Dental Association (ADA), has an information article and short video discussing teeth whitening, including answers to commonly asked questions.
