Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentistry

Tooth Whitening Your Options

Monday, October 26, 2009

Tooth Whitening…let me count the ways.

A beautiful bright white smile is very desirable.
Naturally we all have different shades of tooth color.
In the early 1990’s dental technology provided us with a simple way to whiten our teeth. Today that whitening process has expanded to provide an individual with multiple choices for achieving the goal of a whiter smile.
So as a consumer what are your choices.

Let’s start with whitening toothpastes. All toothpastes help remove surface stain through the action of mild abrasives. "Whitening" toothpastes have special chemical or polishing agents that provide additional stain removal effectiveness. Unlike bleaches, these products do not alter the intrinsic color of teeth.

Whitening gels are by far the most popular form of tooth whitening. There are several alternative ways to obtain these gels. Most obviously is through your dentist. The gels you get from a dentist are time tested for the effectiveness in helping an individual to achieve the white smile they are seeking. The there are the over-the-counter variety of whitening solutions. The main difference between drugstore tooth whitening systems and the ones that dentists use is that the over-the-counter systems work much slower because the gels have lower concentrations of peroxide than the ones used in dentists’ offices. An example of those types of products is Crest White Strips. They are less costly than the gels your dentist will offer and generally not as effective. You must be very diligent and patient to get the greatest effect with these types of products.

The other popular approach for whitening your teeth is ZOOM or Brite Smile. This is the for the immediate action type of person who may not wear trays or strips. It requires sitting in the dental chair for about 2 hours.
The results, while not always predictable, they can be instantly dramatic. This too is more expensive than the over-the-counter options. For those people who “gotta have it and gotta have it now”, it is the best option available.

This is just an overview of the many options available for whitening your teeth. Each system has pros and cons, depending on the individual person. Should you have any additional questions about whitening your teeth, we are here to answer them for you. Please give us a call at 561-394-9000 and we will arrange an appointment for you to determine the best whitening technique for you.

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.