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In-office whitening is a procedure designed to lighten the color of the teeth using hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide power bleaching gel. During the procedure, the whitening gel will be applied  and the teeth will be exposed to the bleaching agent for an average of two (2) 20-30 minute sessions. Before and after treatment, the shade of my your teeth and mouth health will be assessed and recorded.

Risks of Treatment

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Whitening treatments are not intended to lighten artificial teeth, caps, crowns veneers, or porcelain, composite or any other restorative materials and that people with darkly stained yellow or yellow-brown teeth with multiple colorations, bands splotches or spots due to tetracycline use or fluorosis do not whiten as well. These teeth may need multiple treatments or may not lighten and are usually best treated with other non-bleaching alternatives. Provisional or temporaries made from acrylics may become discolored after exposure to bleaching treatment. 

In-office treatment is not recommended for pregnant or lactating women, or those with known allergy or chemical sensitivity to peroxide or glycols. 

Some of the potential complications of this treatment may include but are not limited to:

Tooth Sensitivity/Pain- During the first 24-48 hours after treatment, you may experience some tooth sensitivity or pain. This is normal and is usually mild, but it can be worse in susceptible individuals, normally tooth sensitivity or pain following a bleaching treatment subsides after a few days, but it may persist for longer periods of time in susceptible individuals. People with existing sensitivity, recession, exposed dentin, exposed tooth surfaces and occlusal wear facets (severely worn teeth), damaged or missing enamel, cracked tooth, (micro-cracks), open cavities, leaking filings, or other dental conditions increase or prolonged tooth sensitivity or pain after bleaching treatment.

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Gum/Lip/Cheek Inflammation- Whitening may cause inflammation of your gums, lips, or cheek margins. This is due to inadvertent exposure of a small area of those tissue to the whitening gel. The inflammation is usually temporary which will subside in a few days.

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Cavities or Leaking Fillings - Most dental whitening is indicated for the outside of the teeth, except for patients who have already undergo a root canal procedure. If any open cavities or fillings that are leaking and allowing gel to penetrate the tooth are present, significant pain and damage to the tooth could result. If your teeth have these conditions, you should have cavities filled or fillings redone before undergoing in-office bleaching treatment.

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Cervical Abrasion/Erosion - These are conditions which affect the roots of the tooth when the gums recede and they are characterized by grooves, notches and/or depressions that appear darker than the rest of the teeth, where the teeth meet the gums. These areas appear darker because they lack the enamel that covers the rest of the teeth. Even if these areas are not currently sensitive, they allow the whitening gel to penetrate the teeth, causing sensitivity, pain and possible damage to the nerve. If your teeth have these conditions, you should not undergo the in-office bleaching treatment.

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Root Resorption - This condition where the tooth starts to dissolve either form the inside or outside. Although the cause of this is still uncertain,  there is evidence that indicates the incidence of root resorption is higher in patients who undergone root canals followed by whitening procedures. 

 
Relapse - After the bleaching treatment, it is natural for teeth that underwent the accelerated bleaching to regress somewhat in their shading. This is natural and should be very gradual, but it can be accelerated by exposing the teeth to various staining agents.  The results of the accelerated in-office bleaching treatment are not intended to be permanent and secondary, repeat  treatments (touch up) may be needed  to maintain the desired tooth shade. 

After the treatment, avoid substances that could discolor my teeth for the first 2 days. These substances include coffee, tea, colas, ALL tobacco products, mustard or ketchup, red wine, soy sauce, berry pie, red sauces. Any other substances that could discolor the teeth should be avoided during the first 48 hours after treatment.