It depends on the individual's needs and goals regarding teeth whitening. A dentist can advise about various methods and the procedure which will suit him. Also, he will be in a position to explain about the teeth whitening procedure, side effects, if any, cost, results one can expect out of the procedure and so on. This will enable the person choose the best teeth whitening procedure out of the laid out options before him.

How do the teeth whitening procedures make the teeth white?

The bleaching gel containing either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide is broken down into oxygen molecules. These oxygen molecules get into the tiny pores of the dentin and the enamel to break the stains which are blocking out the light. This enables the light pass through the teeth as the stains are broken into small pieces making the teeth to look lighter. Teeth containing stains which are of yellow or brown color produces very best results, from the teeth whitening procedure. If the teeth contain blue to grey or dark brown stains, it will be very difficult to bleach, as they would have been deeply embedded in to the teeth structure. These hard stains can be treated with tetracycline and the results can be seen only after three weeks time, and some may even take six months to see complete results out of the procedure.

Will the patient undergoing such teeth whitening procedure experience any discomfort?

The range of discomfort experienced by patients may vary from individual to individual and also depending on the procedure used. Many adults do not even feel any discomfort and even if they feel any discomfort it is to the minimum level. If the discomfort lasts for more than 2 days, it has to be consulted with the dentist. The pain tolerance should be discussed with the dentist, so that he can devise a procedure or combination of procedures to treat accordingly.

What results can be expected after the teeth bleaching procedure?

The results may vary from person to person. It is up to the person to take care not to further stain the teeth by avoiding tobacco, red wine, or foods which stain to make the results stay for long. The teeth should be flossed, brushed and kept clean to maintain the brightness. Normally the bleaching lasts for about 1 to 3 years. Since the decalcified spots are a kind of white spots which affect the calcium content of the enamel and are very difficult to be treated by just bleaching the teeth. The dentist may prescribe a paste which is a micro abrasion material used to polish and clean the teeth.

Who is the ideal candidate to undergo teeth whitening procedure?

A person who is mature enough to understand the complete procedure, who is suffering from marked and stained teeth, who has some knowledge about the procedure, who is in very much need to improve the confidence level and appearance through teeth whitening, who can expect realistic results are all suitable to undergo the teeth whitening procedure.