Services: Aesthetics: Procedure Laser Tooth Whitening 

Procedure for In-office Tooth Whitening

1: Evaluate Pre-whitening Tooth Shade

Both the patient and dentist will want to be able to determine how effective the whitening treatment has been. In order to be able to make this comparison the dentist will need to document the pre-treatment shade of the patient's teeth. 

The dentist will use an array of tooth-shaped porcelain tabs (each of which is a slightly different color) and compare each tab with the patient's teeth. The patient is asked to pick out the tooth color that best matches their teeth and this value is then recorded. 

Professional dental scaling and polishing is usally done before the bleaching treatment is performed, but it is optional if the patient's teeth is already cleaned.

2: Isolate Teeth to be Whitened 

The peroxide bleaching agents that are used with professional teeth whitening systems are caustic and can irritate or damage soft oral tissues. Your dentist will need to isolate the teeth that will be bleached. They do this by way of placing a "dental dam". 

3: Place Eye Protection

Because of the caustic nature of the peroxide bleaching compounds used in professional teeth whitening treatments and the laser light used to activate the bleaching agent, eye protection is required and worn for protection. 

4: Apply Peroxide Whitening Gel

The dentist will dry off the patient's teeth and then apply the bleaching compound. Professional teeth whiteners are usually thick pastes or gels. The dentist either dabs or paints them onto each tooth's surface.

5: Expose Tooth Whitener to Laser Light

The teeth whitening bleaching compound is activated using a laser light source. This "activation" shortens the needed treatment time and/or makes the whitener more effective. 

6: Leave Tooth Whitener for Prescribed Time

One whitening session may consist of a single or even multiple applications of the whitener. There is a possibility that sensitivity may arise during the treatment process. Depending on your specific experience, your dentist may determine that it is best to cut the treatment time short and terminate the bleaching process. 

7: Remove Tooth Whitener

The whitening compound is washed and suctioned off the surface of the teeth. The teeth are thoroughly washed yet again and then the dental dam and any other isolating materials or devices are removed. 

8: Determine Post-bleaching Tooth Shade

Just like before the professional teeth whitening process was begun, after the bleaching treatment has been completed, another shade evaluation will be done to see how much whitening has been achieved.