Tooth whitening (or bleaching) is a simple, non-invasive dental treatment used to change the color of natural tooth enamel and is an ideal way to enhance the beauty of your smile.
Because having whiter teeth has now become the number one aesthetic concern of most patients, there are a number of ways to whiten teeth. The most popular method is using a home tooth whitening system that will whiten teeth dramatically. Since tooth whitening only works on natural tooth enamel, it is important to evaluate replacement of any old fillings, crowns, etc. Replacement of any restorations will be done after bleaching so they will match the newly bleached teeth.
Tooth whitening is not permanent. A touch-up may be needed every month to several years; more often if you smoke, drink coffee, tea, or wine.
Reasons for tooth whitening:
Fluorosis (excessive fluoridation during tooth development).
Normal wear of outer tooth layer.
Stained teeth due to medications (tetracycline, etc.).
Yellow, brown stained teeth.
What does tooth whitening involve?
We use and highly recommend the Kor Whitening system. This is the most effective system we have seen for predictably whitening teeth multiple shades. There are four levels of Kor: Kor Night (or Kor Day), Kor Max, Kor Ultra and Kor Ultra-T. Below is a description of each.
Kor Night (or Kor Day):
Kor Night involves home bleaching only. We scan your teeth, create a 3D printed model of your teeth, then fabricate Kor whitening trays on the model. At the second visit, we show you how to apply a desensitizer to your teeth, whitening gel to your trays, and how to insert the tray in your mouth. You then insert the trays overnight for up to 2 weeks. If you have tooth sensitivity during the process, it may take longer than 2 weeks as you will need time to allow your teeth to normalize between whitening sessions. If you would like your teeth to be whiter, you can simply purchase additional material and continue the whitening process. Kor Day uses a different material for whitening, which you apply during the day for up to 2, 1 to 2 hour sessions. Because your teeth are exposed to the material for less time each day, Kor Day takes longer than Kor Night to achieve the same results. If you do not think you can tolerate having trays in your mouth overnight, this might be the system for you.
Kor Max:
Kor Max involves the same steps as Kor Night, but adds an in-office whitening treatment at the end of the home bleaching. The final treatment lasts about 2 to 2 1/2 hours, and gives and extra boost to your new tooth shade.
Kor Ultra:
This is the ultimate treatment for teeth that are dark from age and stain. We think you will be amazed by the results! As with Kor Night, we scan your teeth and fabricate Kor trays for you to whiten at home, but it also involves two in-office treatments. The first in-office treatment conditions your teeth to accept the home whitening material more readily. This visit lasts about 1 1/2 hours and we will use your Kor trays for application of the material. Your will then whiten your teeth for 3 to 6 weeks at home, using the same technique as Kor Night. The final office treatment gives an extra boost to your new tooth shade, and takes about 2 to 2 1/2 hours to complete.
Kor Ultra-T:
For tetracyline or fluorosis-stained teeth, this is the only system we have seen that can make a significant change in the base shade of your teeth. We first used the Kor system for a patient with tetracyline staining. We were so impressed with the results (and so was our patient!) that we now use it for every level of whitening. The process is the same as for Kor Ultra, but includes up to 8 weeks of home bleaching. Some people will need to home bleach for more than 8 weeks, depending on how your teeth respond to the material. If you are not sure this will help you, please ask us the next time you are in.
For more information on Kor Whitening, please click on the following link to the Kor website:Kor Whitening Info
You can also use the following links:
Kor Night Instructions for Use
How to deal with super-sensitive teeth!
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