In general, bleaching is a very safe, inexpensive, and effective cosmetic treatment. Unlike whitening toothpastes that remove stains to reveal the underlying whiteness of teeth, bleaching agents actual make teeth whiter.

While tooth bleaching creates white smiles, people are sometimes disappointed with the results.

The reason for this is that they have unrealistic expectations. Many expect their teeth to be as white as copy paper after the procedure. Even at their whitest, however, your teeth can not approach this degree of whiteness. Teeth that looked like this would appear very unnatural.

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The best rule of thumb is that the whitest your teeth can possibly become is as white as the whites of your eyes !

Typically bleaching can last 5-10 years depending on whether or not you smoke, consume acid containing foods, or consume staining foods like red wines and coffee. The use of whitening toothpastes can significantly prolong the results you get with bleaching.

Things to be aware of when bleaching your teeth:

1. Some people have tooth colored fillings in their teeth that match their yellow teeth before the bleaching. After the bleaching, the teeth whiten but the fillings stay the same color. Consequently, these fillings will need to be replaced at an extra cost after the bleaching is completed. Additionally, crowns or porcelain restorations in conspicuous areas will not lighten from bleaching and may not match the shade of your newly bleached teeth.
2. Another word of caution - those people with sensitive teeth or with gum disease should avoid bleaching procedures. Some people even experience extreme pain when bleaching sensitive teeth or when applying bleaching agent to gums damaged by gum disease.

There are 3 major bleaching methods: (1) Over-the-counter (store bought) home bleaching kits (2) dentist supervised take home bleaching kits and (3) dentist in-office bleaching procedures.

It is important to know that not all bleaching methods are created equal, providing varied results. In the next few pages we'll discuss the various bleaching options and the pros and cons of each. We'll start with

The hazards of over-the-counter home bleaching kits >>>>