Question 8 

 

What's the difference between the bleaching I can do at home with a kit from the store and the bleaching that my dentist does?

Dentists have been doing what's called non-vital bleaching for many years. Non-vital bleaching is done on a damaged, darkened tooth that has had root canal treatment. Vital bleaching is done on healthy teeth and has become more popular in recent years. It is sometimes called whitening. It may be carried out in the dental office or the dentist may instruct the patient on how to do the bleaching at home. There's also a wide variety of products for sale in stores.

Not all products are the same and not all give you the same results. Different products, including those used by dentists, may also have different risks and side effects. Here's an overview:

- Whitening toothpastes with abrasive ingredients are really not bleaching products at all. They work on surface stain only. They are sold in many stores.

- Some whitening toothpastes do contain a chemical ingredient (or bleach) that causes a chemical reaction to lighten teeth. Generally, they have the lowest amount of bleach. They may not whiten as well as stronger products, but they have less chance of side effects. These pastes are brushed onto teeth and rinsed off, like a regular toothpaste.

- Bleaching kits sold in stores stay on your teeth longer than toothpaste and contain stronger bleach. These store-bought products do not come with the added safety of having your dentist monitor any side effects. They also come with a one-size-fits-all tray that holds the bleach and is more likely to leak the chemical into your mouth.

- Dentists may do use products with stronger bleach, but they give patients careful instructions to follow. They are also trained to spot and treat the side effects that patients sometimes report during bleaching. In addition, if a tray is needed to apply the bleach, dentists supply custom-made trays. Because products used by dentists are strong, they tend to produce the best results.

Patients should be aware that the long term use of whitening or bleaching products may cause tooth sensitivity or tooth abrasion.