Laser Teeth Whitening
Laser teeth whitening is a procedure designed to brighten your teeth. It is a fast and efficient way to reduce teeth discoloration and staining from frequent and heavy consumption of coffee, tobacco, tea, or red wine.
This treatment uses a light-activated bleaching gel to achieve a whiter and brighter set of teeth within 1 to 2 hours. Laser teeth whitening does not cause any damage to the teeth and is a safe and viable option for people with sensitive teeth.
What You Need to Know About Laser Teeth Whitening
Laser teeth whitening is a very effective teeth whitening procedure that produces instant results after only 2 to 4 cycles. The results vary patient to patient, depending on several factors, such as age of the patient, original color of the teeth, oral hygiene of the patient, etc.
It is best combined with Airflow teeth cleaning to remove plaque and extrinsic stains covering the outer layer of the tooth which may interfere with the whitening treatment.
The patient will wear a cheek retractor to help keep the mouth open during the entire procedure with ease and comfort. A protective eye glasses should be worn to protect your eyes.
Then, a gum barrier will be placed surrounding the tooth to protect the gums. The whitening gel will now be applied and exposed to the laser light to activate the whitening gel.
After the procedure, the patient may experience transient tooth sensitivity, that is usually mild, with no long term adverse effects.
Important Reminders for Laser Teeth Whitening Patients
Not Suitable For
Laser Teeth Treatment is not suitable for: Children; Pregnant or Breastfeeding Women; Light-Sensitive Individuals; Diagnosed with Melanoma.
Will Not Whiten
Existing Fillings, Crowns, Veneers will not whiten, and may need replacement after Teeth Whitening is completed.
Should Be Treated First
Active decay, exposed dentin, and gum disease need to be treated before proceeding with whitening.
Gum/Lip/Cheek Inflammation
When done properly with the use of gingival barrier and lip balm, laser teeth whitening will not harm your gums and lips. However, due to inadvertent exposure of small areas of soft tissues to the whitening gel, this treatment can sometimes cause temporary white marks, with minimal discomfort.
Relapse
The result is not permanent, and it is natural for the teeth that undergo teeth whitening to go back to its normal color gradually, a few months after the treatment. This highly depends on the oral hygiene of the patient, frequent and heavy consumption of staining agents such as coffee, tobacco, tea, or red wine, and having a maintenance whitening regimen at home.
Teeth Whitening
After the Treatment:
- Do not smoke for 24-48 hours. Smoking can stain your teeth and make the whitening process less effective.
- Avoid consuming any colorants in the first 24-36 hours following the procedure. This includes foods and drinks that are dark in color, such as red wine, dark colas, coffee, teas, red sauces, soya sauces, and berries.
- Sensitivity to cold air and fluids after teeth whitening is common. To prevent this, take 500 mg ibuprofen or mefenamic acid every 6 hours for 24 hours or as needed only.
- Brushing with anti-sensitivity toothpaste like Sensodyne will help reduce the sensitivity for the next few days.
- Topical cream supplement for the teeth which contains calcium, phosphate, and fluoride is highly recommended to help reduce the sensitivity.
Home Care Maintenance:
- Be careful with your diet. Avoid coffee, red sauces, smoking, and other foods and drinks that can stain your teeth.
- Maintain meticulous oral hygiene at home. This includes brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time, flossing once a day, and using an anti-cavity toothpaste. You may also want to consider using a whitening toothpaste or mouthwash.
- Get regular Airflow teeth cleaning or oral prophylaxis treatments. These treatments can remove superficial stains and help to keep your teeth white.
- Use home bleaching trays with bleaching gel. These trays can be worn at night to help whiten your teeth. Be sure to follow the instructions that come with the trays.
- Get touch-up treatments within 6-12 months. As your teeth naturally yellow over time, you may need to get touch-up treatments to maintain your white smile.
