Professional Teeth Whitening Services

Tooth bleaching involves the placement of a bleaching solution on the teeth to eliminate stains and discoloration. The solution is held in place by a custom-made, see-through tray that fits over the teeth - much like a mouthpiece worn by a professional boxer.

Bleaching is a safe, effective and relatively easy means of producing a whiter smile.

Two bleaching methods are available at Kneib Dentistry: Power Bleaching with a Laser, done at our office, and At-Home-Bleaching, which provides for home use (not to be confused with over-the-counter bleaching products available in local Erie area drug stores).

The difference between the two is the strength of the whitening agent and the time it takes to get effective results. Power bleaching usually takes three to six visits, while home bleaching may take up to four weeks of regular use.

Sensitive teeth, or those that are chipped, eroded or weakened by cavities, should be repaired or protected before they are bleached.

Advanced dental techniques now provide consumers with exciting, new options for enhancing their smiles. Revolutionary methods are now available for bleaching teeth to make smiles sparkle!

Teeth bleaching or whitening lightens the color of teeth whether darkened from age, coffee, tea or tobacco. Its brightening effects can last up to five years after the treatment depending on your personal habits, such as smoking or drinking coffee or tea.

Bleaching has a higher than 90% success rate. Bleaching is tough on stains but gentle on your teeth! Results vary depending on several factors such as teeth stained from smoking; from taking certain medications such as tetracycline during tooth development; or from fluorosis, a condition occurring in the presence of too much fluoride.

Bleaching will not lighten fillings or artificial materials used in dental repair as for crowns, porcelain veneers, etc. Your dentist may discourage treatment if you have sensitive teeth, periodontal disease, teeth with worn enamel or if you're pregnant or breast-feeding.

Research over the last five years has proven bleaching to be both safe and effective. The American Dental Association's seal of approval has been given to a wide range of tooth whitening products.

Generally, the only side effect from treatment may be some sensitivity to hot and cold foods. If this occurs, sensitivity normally disappears within 48 hours.

Please don't hesitate to contact Kneib Dentistry with any questions you may have about the benefits of tooth whitening or tooth bleaching for a whiter smile.

The two aspects of at-home and professional whitening treatments that can be compared are cost, and amount of time required to see results. At-home whitening is much more affordable than professional treatments, but patients may need to wait weeks to see the desired results. The opposite is true for professional whitening treatments. Though being more expensive, professional whitening treatments are typically fast to show results.

The amount of time it takes to see results of teeth whitening treatments depends on the type of treatment and varies from person to person. Some people may see better results due to the natural porousness of their teeth, while others may need more attention due to their habits of smoking and drinking. In some cases, professional whitening treatments can begin to show results in as little as 15 minutes. The full results of a professional treatment will appear after the first 24 hours. Several sessions may be required for at-home kits to provide the same results.

While they are typically very minor, there are some risks involved with whitening your teeth, regardless of your choice to do it professionally or at home. The most common risks are increased tooth sensitivity or mild gum irritation.

Technically patients can eat immediately after having their teeth whitened, but dentists recommend that individuals wait 24-72 hours before resuming a fully normal diet. In the initial 24-72 hours patients can eat, though they should avoid foods (and beverages for that matter) that may cause re-staining or irritation of teeth. These foods may be very hard in texture, too hot, too cold, or dark in color (such as beets, red wine, and dark chocolate).