Professional Teeth Whitening in Boston
Teeth whitening (or bleaching) is a simple, non-invasive dental treatment used to change the color of natural tooth enamel and it is a popular way to enhance the beauty of your smile. Our team of doctors at Boston Center for Oral Health are experts in restorative and cosmetic dental techniques including professional teeth whitening.
As teeth whiteness has grown as a common aesthetic concern among patients, so too have the number and types of available treatment options. Since teeth whitening only works on natural tooth enamel, it is important to evaluate replacement of any old fillings, crowns, and other old restorations in conjunction with whitening. Replacement of old restorations should be done after teeth bleaching so that color is uniform with the newly whitened teeth.
Teeth whitening is not permanent. A touch-up may be needed every several years to maintain desired results, and it may be necessary more often if you smoke or regularly drink coffee, tea or wine — all of which can stain the teeth.
Common reasons for teeth whitening:
- Fluorosis (excessive fluoridation during tooth development)
- Normal wear of outer tooth layer
- Stained teeth due to medications (e.g. tetracycline)
- Yellow or brown stained teeth
What whitening treatments do you offer?
Our team at Boston Center for Oral Health offers:
- Zoom! laser teeth whitening
- At-home whitening system
What does Zoom! teeth whitening involve?
Zoom! teeth whitening (by Philips) is a quick and effective in-office whitening procedure that can whiten a patient’s teeth by up to eight shades in just 45 minutes. The procedure involves the dentist applying a special gel to your teeth, which is activated using a special light. The Zoom! technology allows the dentist to control intensity settings in order to maximize patient comfort. As a result, patients see deep stain removal and significant whitening on natural teeth with little to no sensitivity (a common side effect with other types of whitening treatments).
What does at-home teeth whitening involve?
This type of teeth whitening bleaches teeth dramatically using custom-made trays worn at home. It usually requires two visits. At the first appointment, impressions (molds) will be made of your teeth to fabricate the custom, clear plastic trays. At your second appointment, you will try on the trays for proper fit and adjustments will be made if necessary.
The trays are worn with special whitening solution either twice a day for 30 minutes or overnight for a couple of weeks, depending on the degree of staining and your desired level of whitening. It is normal to experience tooth sensitivity while you are whitening your teeth, but it will subside shortly after