Teeth Bleaching, Revisited

[SandyM]

I did a search and I couldn't find anything on this - forgive me if it's been discussed and I missed it.

Has anyone had their teeth bleached professionally? I'm talking having the trays for your teeth fitted, taking them home (with the bleach) and doing it yourself.

I have "caps" on my two front teeth that my dentist said wouldn't bleach with the rest of my teeth. They'd have to be replaced in order to continue with the bleaching process. I wasn't about to have that done until I found out for certain that my insurance would cover a good portion of it. Well, I found out yesterday that they'll cover 70% of the $1000 charge to have the "caps" replaced with "veneers" (whatever they are).

First I need to do the bleaching, and then the veneers will be matched to the newly-bleached teeth. I go tonight to get "fitted" for the trays, and I pick them up on Monday and start the process.

Needless to say, I'm a little worried. Too much bleach - will it burn? Too little bleach - won't do the trick.

Any words of wisdom? Please...?? :confused:

[Laura]

I had my teeth bleached professionally, and while I didnt' get that superwhite tint to my teeth, they are much whiter. I found that my teeth would get very sensitive to cold with the bleaching process to I started using ACT Flouride rinse before I put the trays in and that helped a lot.

[wallycat]

For the reasons mentioned, I've decided to live with my tooth color.
I too have caps and I have very sensitive teeth as it is.

Remember that flouride can temporarily darken teeth....

[sushibones]

Sandy, did you see the thread on Crest White Strips (http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28173&highlight=crest) as an alternative to bleaching? Probably not what you're looking for, but just in case you missed it. . .

Some people have lives, though, and don't necessarily read all the posts on the board. It's up to those of us who spend our lives cruising the board to keep everyone else informed about what they've missed. ;) :D :D

[SandyM]

Hah - very funny, Susan. :D ;) :D ;)

I did read that thread with interest, but since these "caps" that I have on my front teeth won't bleach, I figure I should just have it all done professionally. I'll talk to my dentist tonight, though. He actually is the kind of guy who would tell his patients of an alternative method, if it would save money.

Thanks Laura and wallycat for the info.

[Melman]

Ok...I'm going to sneak my hand into the air and say that I've gone the bleaching route. I have those little tray things and a bunch of little tubes of the bleach. I have not had ANY problems with sensitivity!! Zero!

The one and only problem I've had is that I had a hygienist cleaning appointment about a week after I started using them. My trays fit very closely around my gums and were fine other than when the "evil devil-woman hygienist" started gouging around in there. I asked specifically if the trays could cause my gums to be so sensitive. I got a nasty "no!" from her. I've realized that wasn't a correct answer. My teeth/gums aren't sensitive to cold, hot, or anything else. I can tell when I brush my teeth the day after I've bleached them overnight that they're a little sensitive to the toothbrush...but just enough to tell. NOTHING painful.

By the way, I went for my 6-month checkup last week. The first thing the NEW hygienist said was "Your teeth are BEAUTIFUL! ...uh..do you bleach them?" I had to confess to that question too. When we were finished, she said she she hoped that ALL her patients would come in in such good shape the rest of that day!! Moral of that story...be careful who your hygienist is...and bleaching doesn't have to be a problem at all.

Good luck!

[SandyM]

Yayyyyy!!! Thank you so much!! This is what I was waiting to hear!!!! :D :D :D <------me with shiny white teeth :)

[jhawk]

I've done it, and I got really good results. I did experience some sensitivity, especially after I used the trays for several days in a row without taking a day off. In fact, my teeth were sensitive and my gums were tender when I did that, but if I took a day or two off, the sensitivity and tenderness went away quickly. I used them before my wedding - which was about 22 months ago - and I have "boosted" one time since then (for only about a week) and they still look good. I will probably boost again this fall - planning to do it annually. I am very glad I did it.

[Melman]

I meant to add that I plop in the trays MAYBE about once a month just overnight. That seems to work just fine for a quick little "shine"!

:D <-- ditto!

[mst]

I bleach, and I am not ashamed! I did the in-office procedure almost 10 years ago(which my dentist no longer does because so many people complained about teeth sensitivity). I had no problems. Whenever I go back, he always checks my teeth color, and it is still the same color as when he did it 10 years ago. However, I do not drink coffee or smoke, and I drink my tea VERY light (all things that stain teeth).

I tried the Crest Whitestrips and they made no difference for me.

My DH did the trays (from the dentist) before our wedding. WOW! It made such a HUGE difference for him. His teeth were much more yellow than mine were, so it really was a fabulous difference. He had no teeth sensitivity issues. Although he really should do a touch-up, his teeth are still much whiter than they were originally. I can not recommend doing this enough. It will brighten up your whole face, and make your smile even nicer! I would do it again in a heartbeat!

[Jewel]

I did it about 2 years ago, and I have mixed feelings. I got the trays fitted and the tubes of squirt gel. The gel burns at first when it squeezes up onto the gums, but you have to get it all the way up to the gum line or you'll have uneven bleaching! It was uncomfortable the first half hour the trays were in, then I would fall asleep and be OK. As Melman says, the first few times you brush your teeth after bleaching the gums are extremely sensitive, but that also fades.

I think what bothered me is that the color I saw in the morning wasn't the color I saw in the afternoon. :( They were all white and perfect after the trays were removed but my mid-afternoon I had yellowish teeth again! :confused: All in all I did about 12 treatments and I still don't have the really white teeth that I envy on others. I have whiter teeth than I did before, but not what I was hoping for. Everyone is different though, go for it! :)

[Lynn B]

I first did the bleaching a few years ago. Went to the dentist, had the impressions and the molded trays made, and went home to do the actual bleaching process. I have been SO HAPPY with the results! WHAT A HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!! Second only to the recent LASIK procedure I have had done, it was the best $$$ I ever spent on myself!

I actually get compliments from strangers on my teeth. The other day a lady behind me in the grocery store line said, "You have the most beautiful teeth! They are so white and straight and pretty!"

My teeth had always been yellow. I have read that yellow teeth tend to bleach better than say, gray teeth. I squirted the solution into the trays and wore them to bed at night. The improvement was fairly gradual, but in about 2 weeks I got to white. It is awesome!

There was some tooth sensitivity for awhile, and my gums got a little sore... but I think that can be minimized or even eliminated by going "slower" and not doing it every night... but I was very eager! :) Coffee, tea, and certain foods (blueberries, etc.) (and smoking, of course) can (and will) re-stain and re-darken teeth. I'm not much of a coffee drinker anymore, but I do like tea, and so every couple of months I will do a "touch up" and use the bleaching gel for a night or 2.

All tooth bleaching is done w/ the active ingredient of carbamide peroxide. The strengths vary from 10% (or less) to over 30% The real high strengths are still done in the dentist's office (I believe). The most common home bleaching strength is 11% and 16%. The higher the #, the more likely you are to have the tooth sensitivity and the gum irritation.

After I had such good results, DH decided to do it, too. He did some searching on the internet and found a bunch of places that did it way cheaper than I paid at the dentist. He chose a place that actually sent him the materials to make his own impressions, and they did a great job! Now we just buy our "refills" online, much cheaper than what the dentist charges - and for the EXACT same stuff.

My DDIL tried the Crest whitening strips (much lower % of carbamide peroxide), and she had a terrible gum reaction. But I think the custom-molded trays are a much better way to go, because you really can mostly eliminate the gum-exposure to the solution.

Bottom line: IMHO, it's worth EVERY PENNY! Wish I'd have done it YEARS AGO!!!!

Lynn

[leightx]

Wow! I had no idea you could do this online!! I just ordered from Brite-White (http://www.britewhite.com). Apparently, they send you out the putty stuff to make an impression of your teeth (top and bottom), then you make sure it's ok, redo if not, and send it back to them. They make the custom-fitted trays, send to you, and you can whiten at home. I got the entire kit, and 10 "syringes" of whitener, for $144 including shipping. I've been debating doing this for years - my front tooth is yellowed from antibiotics I took when I was a kid. The dentist wanted $400, and didn't even guarantee any results!! This place guarantees your money back, and doesn't seem like a fly-by-night sort of company.

Keeping my fingers crossed! I'll keep everyone updated!

Leightx

[boisewinesnob]

I was searching and found this older thread.
My dentist retired a few months ago and today the kids and I went to a new dentist. I asked him about bleaching because I've been wanting to do it (I drink coffee, have diet pepsi, red wine, blueberries and all the bad stuff :o ). He said his price is $100 (although I think he's having a "sale" b/c it's a new office) and after looking into it that seems like a great price! I scheduled myself for this coming Friday....should I go through with it?

Leigh and Sandy....how did everything turn out??

[Gracie]

My dentist also wants $400. He says that I can't use the over-the-counter stuff because I have tetracycline stains on my teeth from being given antibiotics when I was young. Up until this last appointment when I asked again, he's always said that nothing would work for me because of the tetracycline and I trust him not to do the procedure just to take my money. This last appointment he said that enough advancements have been made that the bleaching should be successful now.

I also have bonding on my front top 4 teeth and they will not respond to the bleaching since the outside isn't my teeth anymore. He'll have to do the porcelain veneers on them to match how white my other teeth get (unknown $).

I am still playing around with this. I'd love to do it, but it's so much money.

Loren

[SandyM]

Hi Guys,

I just tripped upon this thread now. Sorry for the delay.

When I asked the dentist I had 15 years ago if I was a good candidate for bleaching, he responded with an instant "No." No questions, no explanations, just "no". I left that dentist (for other reasons), and the dentist I've been seeing now said "Of course you're a great candidate!" He's a wonderful dentist, and I trust him implicitly. I started the process not long after starting this thread, and I've gone through several chapters. The original solution (16%, I believe) wasn't strong enough. I was using it overnight, and it wasn't making much progress. They switched me to a very strong 32% - I only wear it one hour a day, and boy, did that make a difference. I'm still a while away from where I need to be - I only do it 2-3 times a week because it does make my teeth rather sensitive - only temporarily, though. I have 35 years of yellowing to clear up, so I knew it wouldn't be an overnight thing.

I need to have the bonding on the 2 front teeth changed to veneers also, and they're waiting for the bleaching to get to the shade where I'm comfortable, and then they'll replace them.

I paid about $475 (I got reimbursed from a special medical fund I set up at the beginning of the year), but this fee includes all bleaching materials from here on out (thank goodness).

Susie - good luck on Friday - it doesn't hurt to check it out. $100 seems really low, but as you said, maybe it's a special - and it may not include all of the supplies for long-term. There are good deals online, though, so that shouldn't stop you if you're really interested in doing this.

Let us know how it turns out!

[sharris315]

Take care of those custom trays!!! Once when I used mine, I rinsed and left them on the counter to dry--DH had a spurt of cleaning activity and THREW THEM AWAY :eek: thinking they were just some pieces of clear plastic. That was $350 gone--the dentist who did this is in another state, so there are no retakes.

I was very pleased with my results--and miss having them (cannot justify the expense again) Since then I've used the crest strips, and now truly appreciate the ease and lack of mess the custom ones give.

$100 is a GREAT price, by the way--I would go for it!!

Shar

[boisewinesnob]

I had the molds done last Friday and go in later today to pick up the trays and the bleach :D . I'm thinking they said the price is normally $300 or something? I think it includes everything, although from what I understand you eventually have to get more bleach if you use it over a long period of time.

I guess I start bleaching tonight. Yay!! BTW, my boss made an appointment for herself with the same dentist and gets her molds done next week. She seems more excited about it than I am :)

[boisewinesnob]

OK, my $100 covered the molds/trays, 6 tubes of bleach and I have done it for one week now. I think I noticed a difference after about 4 days. Of course, I am out of town right now on vacation and forgot to bring my own bleach so I had to go to a dentist and buy a tube :mad: (duh!!).

Also, I could barely keep it in for more than 1/2 hour at a time the first couple days....it made my teeth SO sensitive! Now it seems to be much better and I can tolerate it for a lot longer :D