Tooth whitening today requires little effort and has become relatively inexpensive.  It is a very effective solution for a lifetime of results.  A lot has changed in the field of tooth whitening.  Although the concept was developed in the mid-80’s, there have been many developments over the years.  At first it was believed that it was necessary to etch the teeth with acid prior to whitening.  However studies have concluded that there was no advantage in this step.  From there, the tooth whitening procedures became much more simple. 

Over the years, many whitening products have become available.  From over the counter remedies to dentist supervised home teeth bleaching, there are many options.  The most popular is done at home, but with cosmetic dentist supervision.  In the dental office, a custom-made tray is fit to precision over the patient’s teeth.  The patient then fills the trays with a prescribed gel and wears them for specified times.  There are a variety of gels on the market.  Over a period of time, the process completes the desired tooth whitening by improving the entire structure of the tooth.  Progress is monitored by the dentist with short follow up appointments.  The patient can then maintain their results with touch up treatments over the years.

The other route one can go is with over the counter products.  Generally, the results are not as effective as professionally supervised tooth whitening.  There are some brands of bleaching gels that are quite effective, but it is important to check with a dental professional on which products to use.  Not only do some not work well, some can actually damage the teeth, eroding the enamel.  Over the counter toothpastes are also popular, but usually focus on removing stains.  The bleaching process occurs only on the surface of the tooth.  In most cases it is best to check with a trained cosmetic dentist to determine if the product chosen will deliver the results sought after..a brighter, whiter, smile.