Power Bleaching

The Deep Bleaching™ Technique: The Best Way To Whiten Your Teeth

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These days, everyone wants whiter, brighter teeth. With so many whitening products on the market, many of our patients ask which bleaching system is the fastest and offers the best results.

In our office, we use Zoom! the leading tooth whitening system created by Discus Dental. You may have heard of Zoom! on the TV show, Extreme Makeover. While Zoom! works wonderfully, we've found that it can be more effective when we combine the Zoom! In-Office System with an at-home bleaching treatment. We call this our Deep Bleaching™ technique.

Deep Bleaching™ vs. Other Whitening Systems

You may wonder how Deep Bleaching™ differs from over-the-counter bleaching products and in-office whitening treatments. While over-the-counter bleaching products are okay, many only work on your natural teeth and do not get your teeth really white. Acids and other chemicals in these products may even damage fillings, crowns, bonding, or the roots of your teeth.

With in-office whitening treatments, there are biological limits to how white your teeth can get. In the past, many people who bleached their teeth were forced to live with dingy-looking enamel because no additional amount of bleaching would change the color of their teeth.

With Deep Bleaching™, there are no limits to a dazzling smile. This method gets teeth whiter and helps people who have had tough stains or bleach resistant teeth to get their smiles as white as they would like. Most importantly, Deep Bleaching™ is safe and long lasting.

Beginning The Deep Bleaching™ Treatment

Before your first in-office Deep Bleaching™ treatment, we will take impressions of your upper and lower teeth to create your at-home bleaching trays. These trays are thin, clear vinyl mouthpieces customized to fit comfortably in your mouth. Each tray has a gap or reservoir on the outside of each tooth (except for the molars). These reservoirs hold the excess bleaching solution and seal the tray to your teeth at the gum line.

Once we've created the trays, we'll schedule your first Zoom! whitening session in our office. During this session, we will apply a conditioning solution to your teeth so they will absorb oxygen from the bleaching gel you'll use in your at-home kit. The oxygen removes microbes and other debris to deep-clean your teeth. After this first session, we'll give you your bleaching kit. In it, you'll find several syringes of bleaching gel to use in your trays and a storage case for the trays.

Deep Bleaching™ At Home

You should apply the Deep Bleaching™ trays immediately before you sleep. If you read or watch TV in bed, wait to apply the trays until you're ready to turn off the light. Before you apply the trays, however, we recommend that you take Aleve, Advil, or a similar over-the-counter inflammatory medication to control possible inflammation and soreness. We also suggest that you brush your teeth with whitening toothpaste, such as Rembrandt Plus, or if you have sensitive teeth, Rembrandt for Sensitive Teeth. This helps start the bleaching process and stops protein in your saliva from inhibiting the bleaching agent.

When you're ready to apply the trays, squeeze the bleaching gel into each reservoir on the inner side of the outer walls of the trays. Place the tray in your mouth and firmly push it against the teeth to seal it to the gum. If you use too much bleaching gel, use a tissue to wipe away any excess that leaks out from the trays. If you've used too little, you will be able to see through the tray and the reservoirs will only be partially full. If this happens, DON'T REMOVE THE TRAY. Instead, apply more gel to your trays the next night.

In the morning, remove the trays and rinse your mouth with lukewarm water. Your teeth may be sensitive to hot or cold. You should also clean the trays with cotton swabs under running water and place them carefully in their storage cases. Store the case in a safe, cool place for the next night.

What To Expect After Deep Bleaching™

We recommend that you wear the trays for fourteen consecutive nights or until your final office bleaching session if your appointment is scheduled for longer than fourteen days. If possible, avoid skipping nights since this slows the whitening process. During this time, we also recommend that you stay away from foods, drinks, and other products (such as tobacco) that may stain your teeth. Since your teeth are conditioned to absorb more oxygen, they will also absorb any stain causing agents.

Your teeth and gums may be sore and sensitive during the first three to four nights that you wear the rays. That's why we recommend taking an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as Advil. If the soreness and sensitivity does not pass after four days, call our office to talk to the dentist.

You may also notice white spots on your teeth or dark areas near the gum line. Or your tooth color may appear too chalky or your lower teeth are lighter than your upper teeth. Don't worry. These are all normal effects of bleaching and the color will even out by the final bleaching session.

Maintaining Your Beautiful Smile

When you come in for your final bleaching session, we will apply a clear, glossy protective coating to your teeth. This will help maintain the color for a long time. If you have leftover bleaching solution, we recommend that you store the remaining gel syringes in the refrigerator to use for future touch-ups.

The Deep Bleaching™ treatment will help you have a brilliantly white smile for many months. To maintain the color, we recommend using Rembrandt brand toothpaste. They use a natural enzyme from the papaya fruit to dissolve away the stains, so your teeth stay very glossy on the surface and won't absorb stains quickly. Rembrandt toothpastes also have bleaching agents in them to keep your tooth color stable. We also recommend wearing the bleaching trays for one night at least every four months.

If you have stained and discolored teeth and want your smile to be the whitest, brightest it can be, talk to the dentist to see if the Deep Bleaching™ technique is right for you. We know you are going to be thrilled with the result.