Read Below for Take Home Whitening Instructions
Limitations to Whitening:
Natural Tooth Variations: Tetracycline (an antibiotic), stained teeth, or grayish teeth are more difficult to whiten and results can vary. Exposed root portion of teeth which occurs with gum recession will also not whiten. Whitening translucent teeth (see thru) can cause the teeth to become even more translucent and may give them a darker appearance. It is important to consult with us if you have any of the above concerns.
Dental Work: Tooth Whitening gel will only whiten natural teeth. It will NOT whiten or harm caps, crowns, bridges, fillings or any other dental work. Matching dental work to newly whitened teeth may require replacement of old materials. If you have amalgam (silver) fillings in, near or behind the front teeth, those teeth may appear darker than the others as the amalgam become more visible through the whitened tooth. You may have to have the dentistry redone in order to match your new white teeth.
Teeth With Root Canals: Topical whitening will not lighten root canal treated teeth if internal darkening is present. If this is a concern, contact us regarding an in-office internal whitening procedure available for brightening these teeth.
New Stains: Coffee, tobacco and other products can re-stain your teeth over time. Should this occur, the teeth can be re-whitened, usually in a few days, using your trays and a refill of the whitening gel. Using straws can lessen the staining of your teeth.
Sensitivity: Your teeth or gums may become sensitive. This is common during whitening and it is not harmful. In case of increased sensitivity reduce whitening time and/or frequency until the sensitivity subsides. Foods and juices high in citric acid can increase sensitivity after whitening. If sensitivity continues to be a problem following whitening, contact us for more options.
Warnings: Keep whitening gel out of reach of children. Do NOT use if pregnant or during nursing. Do NOT smoke, drink or eat while wearing your whitening trays.
Your dental whitening gel should be refrigerated for long-term storage. Discard any unused whitening gel after treatment is completed.
Usage Instructions for Whitening Gel
It is important that you apply the teeth whitening gel properly so you do not waste any of the gel and that you experience the least amount of sensitivity while using the gel.
1. Prior to Whitening:
Brush and floss just prior to whitening your teeth. The whitening gel is the most effective with clean teeth. Try the trays in first without any gel to check the fit and comfort. Make sure that the whitening trays are clean and dry before applying the gel. Moisture reduces the efficiency of the whitening gel and slows down the whitening process
2. Applying the Whitening Gel:
When you apply the gel make sure not to completely fill the trays. Place a drop of tooth whitening gel half way up on the inner front surface of the tray (in the front of each tooth in the tray). Do not spread the bleach around. Recap the syringe for next treatment until empty. We recommend that you only whiten the front 6-8 teeth as no one sees the back teeth.
3. Inserting the Whitening Trays:
Insert tray in the mouth over the teeth. Seat the tray firmly against the teeth.
Wipe the excess gel, which seeps over the brim of the tray onto your gums, by holding the tray up with one hand, wipe the excess gel off of the gums with your finger or with a soft brush.
4. Wearing Time:
- We recommend that if you have not whitened before, use for 20 minutes the first time and increase the wearing time if there is little or no tooth sensitivity.
5. After Whitening:
- Remove the tray and rinse off your teeth. Brush any remaining gel away. Brush, floss and continue routine dental cleaning.
- Avoid very dark liquids (use a straw) or fruits, as your teeth can be very porous at this time and potentially absorb other colors.
6. Caring for Your Trays and Gel:
Clean whitening trays with a toothbrush or Q-tip and cold water. Store trays in the tray holder and gel in cool dry place away from heat and direct sunlight. The gel may be refrigerated to prolong the shelf life, but do not freeze.
Please Note:
- Longer wear times create faster whitening results, but may cause increased sensitivity
- Conduct your whitening session once per day until desired level of whitening is attained.
- If you know you are sensitive, use a sensitive toothpaste 1-2 weeks BEFORE starting regimen, You can even fill your trays with sensitive toothpaste and sleep with it at night if you are very sensitive in the middle of your whitening process,
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns!