Bleaching Post Op Instructions

Bleaching (Teeth whitening) is designed to lighten the color of your teeth.  Significant lightening can be achieved in the vast majority of cased, but the results cannot be guaranteed.  When done properly, the whitening will not harm your teeth or gums.  However, like any other treatment, it has some inherent risks and limitations.  These are seldom serious enough to discourage you from having your teeth whitened, but should be considered when deciding to have the treatment.   

Just about anyone is a candidate for teeth whitening.  However, people with dark yellow or yellow-brown teeth tend to whiten better than people with gray or bluish-gray teeth.  Multi-colored teeth, especially if stained due to tetracycline, do not whiten very well.  Teeth with many fillings, cavities, chips, etc., are usually best treated by bonding, porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns. 

WHAT TO EXPECT WHILE YOU ARE WHITENING YOUR TEETH 

A.      WEARING YOUR WHITENING TRAY 

               If you choose home whitening, it will only be effective if you conscientiously wear the tray for the prescribed number of hours for one to three weeks. 

B.     COMPLICATIONS  

               If you experience any severe discomfort or other problems, discontinue the bleaching and contact us immediately.  Most sensitivity usually transient and disappears after one to several days. 

POTENTIAL PROBLEMS 

      A.     TOOTH SENSITIVITY 

               During the first 24 hours following whitening, some patients experience transient sensitivity.  This sensitivity is usually mild if your teeth are not normally sensitive.  With power whitening, this sensitivity will usually subside in 1-2 days.  With home whitening, it may be necessary for you to reduce the number of hours you are wearing the bleaching tray or stop using it for several days to resolve sensitivity. 

      However, if your teeth are normally sensitive, whitening may make your teeth more sensitive for an extended period of time.  Under these circumstances, you may choose to delay the whitening process until we are able to complete desensitization procedures.  

      If your teeth are sensitive after whitening, a mild analgesic such as Tylenol or Advil will usually be effective in making you more comfortable until your tooth sensitivity returns to normal. 

      B.     GUM IRRITATION 

               This is a result of a small amount of solution leaking under the gum protection.  A burning sensation on your gums may also occur.  This should resolve by itself between a few hours to a few days. 

               With home whitening, irritation can result from using the tray for too many hours when you first start whitening.  It may be necessary for you to reduce the number of hours you wear the tray or stop using it for a few days to resolve these gum problems. 

      C.     EFFECT ON FILLINGS 

               Tooth-colored fillings will not whiten.  If the filling matches your current color, bleaching will result in miss-matched shades with your natural teeth.  You may need to have your old fillings replaced to match your newly whitened teeth. 

COMPLETION OF TREATMENT 

      A. LEVEL OF LIGHTENING 

            There is no reliable way to predict how light your teeth will whiten.  With power whitening, one session usually significantly whitens your teeth.  Some patients require an additional session.  With home whitening, this may take two to four weeks or longer of repeated applications. 

      B. RELAPSE 

           Following completion of whitening, pigments found in food and drinks will re-stain your teeth, commonly called bleaching relapse.  To help prevent relapse, stop smoking and avoid foods that stain your teeth. 

December 3, 2009

Ready to appoint?  Call Julie at (503) 378-0466, or Request An Appointment