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Advanced cosmetic and general dentistry

Do the teeth whitening products from online coupons work?

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For several years I have seen Groupon and Living Social coupons lately for at home teeth whitening products. Do these really work? I’ve always wanted to have a really white smile and now it looks like I can do it affordably. The prices vary and so do the sellers so I’m not sure what I should look for to get a quality product. Are there any types of whitening that are better than other? – Gretchen M.

 

Gretchen.

At-home teeth whitening products are becoming increasingly popular. Some of the products contain as much as  35% carbamide peroxide, which is professional-strength gel.

But you need to exercise caution. There are some advantages of getting teeth whitening from your dentist, even if you decide to get a take-home kit from your dentist.

Not all stains on teeth can be removed with teeth whitening products. Depending on the cause of the stains, the bleaching gel might make the stains more noticeable. Existing dental work on your teeth needs to be checked before starting the teeth whitening process, and that should be done by a dentist.

Your dentist will be able to provide you with customized trays for your teeth. These trays will help you to avoid wasting the gel or irritating your gums with trays that don’t properly fit. Your dentist can monitor the progress of the teeth whitening and determine if adjustments need to be made.

Be cautious about the products that you use. Talk with your dentist about the coupons you’ve seen and discuss cost. Your dentist might be willing to work with your budget, so that you can get your teeth safely whitened.

 

This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

 

 

 

 

Why isn’t my teeth whitening working?

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I try to save money when I can and I have some friends that do their teeth whitening themselves. I am am on my 4th pkg of Luster At Home Teeth Whitening. I am barely noticing the difference from when I first started the whitening. I am wondering if I should switch to a higher strength or maybe leave the gel on longer than recommended. 30 minutes doesn’t seem to be doing it. How long can I use Luster? Thanks Sabrina

Sabrina – Based on the results you have received, it is likely that the type of Luster whitening you are using has zinc oxide as its primary whitening agent. Zinc oxide will coat your teeth and temporarily make them look whiter, but it wears off. The agent is does not reach embedded stains.

You need carbamide peroxide bleaching gel to dissolve embedded stains. The advantage of receiving teeth whitening from your dentist is that the professional-strength whitening gel used will penetrate your teeth to break up stains permanently. You can do at-home touchups as needed to keep your smile bright, but only as directed by your dentist. It is possible to over-whiten your teeth.

There are some cases in which teeth whitening, even by your dentist will have no effect on the stains. And in some cases, the bleaching gel will only make the stains more noticeable. Even when you are doing at-home whitening, we recommend that you consult with your dentist to determine if you should whiten your teeth, the strength of whitening gel that should be used, and the results you can expect. Your dentist will be able to determine the cause of the stains on your teeth, along with the best treatment to brighten your smile.

This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

What kind of teeth whitening will help my veneers?

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My veneers are turning yellow. I have only had them 4 years. This is really weird to me and I am not getting straight answers from the dentist who put them on. Since they started turning yellow I asked him if they are really porcelain. His answer was a fast “of course they are.” I don’t believe it. I know veneers aren’t supposed to stain and I don’t have any habits that would make them stain. I don’t smoke or drink alcohol, coffee, or tea. Nor am I eating anything that would make them stain like this. So now I am down to trying to get the veneers to at least lighten in color a bit. I have tried whitening strips and I bought some Opalescence gel online but there is no change in the color. What kind of teeth whitening will help my veneers? Thanks. Diana

Diana – There is no form of teeth whitening that will brighten your veneers. Porcelain veneers are colorfast. Although you suspect that your veneers are not made of porcelain, the material they are made of isn’t responding to teeth whitening.

You can find out whether or not your veneers are porcelain by visiting an experienced cosmetic dentist. But the dentist won’t be able to change the color. At times, the condition or color of natural teeth beneath the veneers can cause them to look darker. If that’s not true in your case, it is possible that a skilled cosmetic dentist can polish the veneers and make them look better. Otherwise, your solution is to replace them.

Photo of a porcelain veneer, which cannot be whitened, held against a natural tooth for Lowell, MA cosmetic dentist Dr. Szarek

Porcelain veneers are bonded to your natural teeth. They are colorfast and cannot be whitened.

Quality porcelain veneers can last ten to twenty years or longer. They will remain white if you properly care for them at home, and only have your veneers and teeth cleaned by a dentist and hygienist who have been trained to clean veneers.

Whenever you decide to replace your veneers find a talented, accredited cosmetic dentist to do the work. Accredited cosmetic dentists have received extensive training in aesthetic dentistry (making your teeth look beautiful, not just functional), and they have passed exams and submitted patient cases to demonstrate their expertise. You’ll get the smile you want, and it will last.

This post is sponsored by Lowell accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Am I too young for teeth whitening?

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ever since i was 13 i have been asking my mom 2 get my teeth whitened by she wouldn’t let me. now i am almost 17 & i work part time after school so she said it’sokay but she still thinks i am still 2 young. this is something i really want and i promise 2 keep up with the touchups and not overbleach bcz i know it will hurt my teeth if i do. i am wondering if there is a min. age for teeth whitening and if so what is that age. also will it be hard 2 find a place that will sell it 2 me or if teenagers might get carded for the bleaching stuff like we do for liquor even tho it’s not alcohol. thanks. leeya

Leeya – It sounds as if you are thinking of purchasing over-the counter whitening kits and doing the treatment yourself. We don’t recommend this at all.

As long as your permanent teeth are fully developed, whitening them should be safe. But there is no way to be certain of the outcome without visiting a dentist. Do you want your teeth whiter to improve your smile, or are there stains in your teeth?

An examination from a dentist will show whether or not whitening them will be helpful or harmful. A dentist will also let you know if you can expect sensitivity in your teeth from the bleaching gel. If sensitivity is expected, he or she will know which gel strength will be best for you. You will also receive customized trays to keep the gel in contact with your teeth and away from your gums, to prevent burning and pain.

You will not be carded, or asked to show identification, if you purchase do-it-yourself bleaching gel. The results may be limited though, and you can’t be certain how your teeth will respond to the gel.

Think about asking your dentist how he or she can make brightening your smile affordable for you.

 

This post is sponsored by Lowell cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Should my wife whiten her teeth if she’s still breast feeding?

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My wife wants to start whitening her teeth because her sister asked her to be her maid of honor in her wedding. The wedding is in March. I asked my wife to wait but her reasoning is that she will still be breastfeeding in 2016 so why wait. She also says that if teeth whitening isn’t harmful anyway why would it be harmful if she is breastfeeding? Is it safe for her to do this? – Thomas

Thomas – Teeth bleaching gel contains carbamide peroxide, which is considered safe to whiten adult teeth. In-office bleaching gel contains high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (15%-35%). At-home bleaching products contain a lower percentage (usually 3% to 10%, although some are up to 15%). Some safety issues have been raised regarding the absorption of the bleaching gel into oral tissue, or through swallowing some of the gel.

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), more research is needed to determine appropriate use and limitation of teeth whitening for children.

While it is safe to go to the dentist during pregnancy—and it is encouraged—there is insufficient evidence to determine if teeth whitening is safe for pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding. The ADA recommends that the treatment is delayed until after delivery, but receiving the treatment while breastfeeding is questionable.

Regardless of whether a patient is pregnant or breastfeeding, her medical history, including her history of allergies must be reviewed to determine if she is candidate for teeth whitening.

After considering the information provided by the ADA, whether or not to use teeth bleaching gel while breastfeeding is a decision that each patient must make. As an additional precaution, we suggest that your wife speaks with her obstetrician/gynecologist to receive an opinion on using bleaching gel to whiten her teeth.

This post is sponsored by Lowell cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.