San Diego Cosmetic Dentist

San Diego Dentist for Teeth Whitening

We can tell you whether whitening procedures would be effective for you. Whiteners may not correct all types of discoloration. For example, yellow-ish hued teeth will probably bleach well, brownish-colored teeth may bleach less well, and grayish-hued teeth may not bleach well at all. Likewise, whitening may not enhance your smile if you have had bonding or tooth-colored fillings placed in your front teeth. The whitener will not affect the color of these materials, and they will stand out in your newly whitened smile. In these cases, you may want to investigate other options, like porcelain veneers or dental bonding.

We Offer in-office Whitening and Take home Whitening:

What is In-Office Whitening?

If you are a candidate for in-office whitening, we will suggest a procedure that can be done in our office. This procedure is called chairside bleaching and may require more than one office visit. Each visit may take from 30 minutes to one hour.

During chairside whitening, we will apply either a protective gel to your gums or a rubber shield to protect the oral soft tissues. A whitening agent is then applied to the teeth, and a special light may be used to enhance the action of the agent. 

What is Take-Home Whitening?

There are several types of products available for use at home, which we will dispense them to our patients following their in-office whitening procedure.  These products contain peroxide(s), which actually bleach the tooth enamel. These products typically rely on percent carbamide peroxide as the bleaching agent, carbamide peroxide comes in several different concentrations (10%, 16%, 22%).

Peroxide-containing whiteners typically come in a gel and are placed in a mouthguard. Usage regimens vary. Some products are used for about twice a day for 2 weeks, and others are intended for overnight use for 1-2 weeks. We will provide a custom-fitted mouthguard that will fit the teeth precisely.