Steps Involved In Laser Teeth Whitening

Many people whiten their teeth by soaking them in a hydrogen peroxide solution. One method that's slowly gaining popularity is laser teeth whitening. This process whitens teeth faster and requires a few whitening sessions. Here's a step by step overview of laser teeth whitening.

Screening

Before your dentist performs a laser teeth whitening procedure, the dentist must check the condition of your teeth. For example, teeth whitening isn't recommended for gray or brown discoloration, especially if the condition is caused by exposure to antibiotics while the teeth are developing. Laser teeth whitening is also not recommended if you've crowns or fillings on your front teeth. The chemicals will whiten your natural teeth alone, which means your teeth and dental restorations will be different colors.

The dentist will also check to see whether your gums have receded. If the gums expose a significant amount of your tooth root, your teeth will bleach unevenly. This is because tooth roots resist bleaching.

Pre-Treatment

Before beginning the whitening, your dentist will clean your teeth to ensure all cavities are treated. Failing to fill the cavities would expose your inner tooth to the whitening solution. The dentist will proceed to place a lip retractor in your mouth. This retractor prevents your lips from obstructing the dentist's view of your teeth.

The dentist will proceed to cover the gums in your front teeth with a gel. Using a high-powered light, the dentist will harden the gel. This hardening protects your gums from the bleaching chemicals during the whitening procedure.

Whitening

During the whitening procedure, the dentist will apply a gel with a certain concentration of hydrogen peroxide to your teeth. The peroxide gel concentration is higher in laser whitening procedures than in most of the whitening treatments. During laser whitening, the dentist uses the laser light to speed up the whitening process. The gel will foam as the stains are lifted away.

After applying the gel on all of your teeth, the dentist will leave the compound to settle for a few minutes. The dentist will then wipe off the compound and repeat the process several times. Finally, the dentist will rinse your mouth and remove the protective layer on your gums.

In Conclusion

Laser whitening is an effective whitening procedure that's capable of making your teeth a few shades lighter. The effects of laser whitening are immediate, and treatment takes a short time. The main steps in this treatment are a screening test to determine whether you're a suitable candidate. If you pass this test, the dentist will perform a pre-treatment to get rid of cavities and clean your teeth in preparation for the whitening procedure, which is the final step. Talk to your local dentist, Dr. Jon Douglas Lesan, DDS, RpH, PA, or another location for more info.