Am I a Candidate for Professional Teeth Whitening?

You could be an excellent candidate for professional teeth whitening if you suffer from superficial tooth stains and have a desire for a brighter, whiter smile. Professional teeth whitening not only removes the surface stains that are making your teeth look yellow and dingy, but also penetrates the tooth surface to lighten deep-set stains that at-home systems can’t touch.

There are some conditions and situations that may preclude you from being an ideal candidate for teeth whitening, including:

• You should be in good overall oral health. Patients with gum disease, untreated cavities or worn enamel would not be candidates because the bleaching gel will cause sensitivity to those areas.
• Patients under the age of 16 are not good candidates because the nerve of the tooth is enlarged until this age. Teeth whitening could irritate the pulp or cause sensitivity.
• Teeth whitening is not recommended for women who are pregnant or lactating.
• If you have tooth-colored fillings or composite materials in dental restorations such as crowns or bonding, they will not whiten. This can result in uneven coloring between your teeth and your restorations.
• An allergy to hydrogen peroxide would preclude you from professional teeth whitening.
• Patients with receding or sensitive gums would not be good candidates for teeth whitening.
• If you have darkly stained gray or purple stained teeth, they may be especially resistant to professional bleaching treatments.

Schedule a consultation with your Sarasota FL dentist to find out if you are a good candidate for professional teeth whitening, and to discuss the options best suited to you. With professional teeth whitening, you could be enjoying teeth up to 10 shades lighter in as little as one visit.