During this process, the teeth’s whitening occurs from the professional strength formula gel that contains special crystals. As the gel is on the teeth, a special light penetrates the gel crystals for activation. As the light penetrates the crystals, the crystals then are able to move into the enamel of your teeth.

It takes about one two hours for the complete procedure. The teeth can be whitened up to 10 different shades. The laser tooth whitening process is very similar for both laser teeth whitening manufacturers Rembrandt and Zoom!, however, the cost of this service from dentist to dentist can vary.

Depending on the color of the teeth and if there are any stains to remove, the above procedure will be repeated. The teeth can be stained from coffee, cigarettes, and medications such as tetracycline.

The laser tooth whitening method is non-invasive and will not harm any earlier dental work. You will first go through a simple examination to check your oral hygiene as well as your dental work. If there are any repairs that are needed before the laser procedure, your dentist will let you know then.

Dentists should not numb the gum area because the anesthetic can cause this procedure to not be safe. A dental dam can be used to help prevent the gel from going beyond the tooth area. If the patient experiences sensitivity during treatment, the gel may have slipped past the dental dam; in which the doctor would not have been warned this if the patient was numb.

If You Have Sensitive Teeth

People who have sensitive teeth will be able to go one time for the laser procedure without having to repeat the need for continuous bleaching. There is also a milder bleaching gel formula that can be used.

This method is most popular among people with sensitive teeth and is common for many types of patients.
The effects of laser tooth whitening can last approximately 3 years; however, good oral hygiene will have to be maintained as staining materials can affect the work that was completed. In the instance the teeth have been stained again, it is recommended by doctors for the patient to do an over-the-counter touch up or a take-home teeth whitening product.

Some of the side effects of this treatment include gum sensitivity, as well as continued whitening of the teeth for the next several days. That is why it is important to avoid anything that could stain a white T-shirt for that time frame. It has been noted that the gum sensitivity side effect can be limited with anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen or aspirin.

The most difficult to bleach teeth are the dark blue, green, brown stains. These types of stains are usually caused by medication. You can get the best stain fighting results from the yellow slightly brown colored teeth.

Depending upon the type of teeth whitening you receive—results can be seen within an hour to sometimes a week. However, the entire process can take from one week to several months depending on where the stains have originated. If the tooth is really difficult to bleach, the process can actually take up to three years and sometimes longer (and this generally depends on the person and how they maintain their teeth).

The Risks of Bleaching

The side effects of teeth whitening bleaching can be from tenderness in the soft tissue areas, such as the gums and tongue areas, and possibly pain. It is also possible to over-bleach the teeth—when this happens, the tooth will have a translucent effect and appear slightly gray in the light.

In regards to home bleaching, there is just a small risk of ingesting the bleaching gel and in worst cases can cause you to vomit, have nausea and a burning sensation in which you would need to call a doctor immediately.

Teeth whitening bleaching gel can remain unrefrigerated for up to 1 year and 2 years refrigerator.

Does Bleaching Cause Cancer?

In regards to some reports stating that there is a link between teeth bleaching and cancer, the American Dental Association has proved that the teeth bleaching and cancer findings are incorrect. The ADA states, “carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide chemicals generated in the whitening process aren’t carcinogens in the mouth”. The ADA has gone on to monitor the effects of bleaching a little over a decade. The ADA had to make sure that teeth whitening was defined and categorized properly to avoid any confusion.

Other Methods of Whitening

Teeth whitening can happen in one or two ways. You can achieve whitening by bleaching the tooth, which actually changes the overall color of the tooth; or you can use non-bleaching products, which contains certain ingredients that help to remove stains.

Overall in my findings, I have come to the conclusion that bleaching is safe as long as applied correctly and not over-used in one application. Some people may be more sensitive than others to the bleaching agents.