What is Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening is a non-invasive procedure in which a whitening gel is placed on the teeth in order to give them a whiter appearance.

Teeth are porous because they are made up of many tubules. It is these tubules that can lead to staining and cause teeth to get darker over time. Whitening gel is dispersed into the same tubules that the stain is located in and breaks up the stain giving your teeth a whiter appearance.

Is Teeth Whitening for me?
Teeth whitening is an excellent option for somebody wanting to have a whiter smile. Patients that are happy with the shape, size, and position of their teeth but wanting whiter teeth are excellent candidates for teeth bleaching. Teeth whitening is an excellent option for anybody wanting a non-invasive way to whiten a smile.

Who is a good candidate for Teeth Whitening?
Many adults are excellent candidates for teeth whitening. It is important that you have a dentist evaluate your teeth before whitening as you may not be an ideal candidate.

Teeth that have dental crowns or porcelain veneers will not whiten. The same goes for tooth-colored fillings. The entire crown or porcelain veneer will stay the same color while the surrounding teeth without restorations will whiten. Teeth with tooth-colored fillings will whiten, however, the filling will remain the same color, thus possibly making a filling stand out. If the fillings, dental crowns, or porcelain veneers are already lighter than the teeth, you may consider whitening trays because you have more control over how light your teeth get. If the restorations are the same color or darker than the teeth already are, you can consider replacing the restorations after whitening. Ultimately, before placing restorations on teeth that are visible in your smile, you want to consider whitening first so that the porcelain or bonding can be matched to the shade of your teeth.

It is best to wait until the age of 16 to consider whitening teeth. Children under 16 have teeth that are still developing and more prone to sensitivity.

Teeth with tetracycline staining are very difficult to whiten. Tetracycline is an antibiotic that can cause discoloration of teeth if teeth are still in their developmental stages (during pregnancy or as a young child). It is important that a patient understand this before attempting to whiten their teeth. Alternatives such as porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns may be a better alternative.

Any patient with an allergy to peroxide should avoid whitening as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide are the agents used to whiten teeth.
Patients with decayed teeth, hypersensitive teeth, or gum disease should be evaluated by a dentist before whitening. Depending on the severity of the decay, hypersensitivity, or gum disease, it may be best to avoid tooth whitening.

Pregnant patients and patients that are nursing should not whiten their teeth.

Where can I get my teeth whitened?
While there are many over-the-counter options to professional whitening, they are often unpredictable. Dr. Carlos Alonso at Alonso Family Dental is a dentist in the Missouri City/Sugar Land area located across from Sienna Plantation that provides high quality whitening services. Dr. Alonso will first perform an exam to ensure that you are a good candidate for whitening and discuss all of your options with you.

What are my options for getting a whiter smile?
Over-the-counter whitening procedures are often unpredictable. At Dr. Carlos Alonso’s dental office in the Missouri City/Sugar Land area across from Sienna Plantation, we offer both in-office whitening and take-home whitening trays.

In-office whitening is done at Dr. Alonso’s office and consists of two back-to-back 30 minute sessions where the whitening gel is placed on your teeth. Each patient room has a television so feel free to relax and watch t.v. or a movie, read a book, or take a nap while you get in-office whitening treatment.

For patients that prefer to whiten in the comfort of their own home, we provide whitening trays. We make impressions of your mouth and construct trays off of models of your mouth. We show you exactly how to wear your trays, how much gel to place in them, and how often and for how long you should wear your trays. Typically, after two weeks, you will reach a significant shade change in your teeth.

How long does Teeth Whitening last?
Teeth whitening does not last forever. How long it lasts depends on your oral hygiene habits as well as your diet. Patients that have good oral hygiene habits typically have white teeth for longer. Patients that smoke or drink red wine or coffee frequently tend to need touch-ups more frequently.

Does Teeth Whitening damage your teeth?
Teeth whitening does not damage your teeth. While there can be some degree of sensitivity with teeth whitening, it does not damage your teeth if done properly. It is important to have an examination done before having your teeth whitened to ensure that you are a good candidate.

Some people have teeth that are a little more prone to sensitivity to whitening gels. Luckily, there are things that can be done to avoid discomfort. Fluoride or potassium nitrate can be placed on your teeth after the procedure to minimize or eliminate sensitivity. While sensitivity is a possibility, it is short-term and does not cause permanent damage to your teeth.