A Whiter and Brighter Smile. As we age, teeth may darken from coffee, tea, smoking, berries and other substances that get into micro cracks in the enamel, causing discoloration. Some people have gray or brown bands on their teeth caused by an early childhood fever or tetracycline medication taken when the tooth enamel was forming. In some parts of the country where fluoride is found in naturally high concentrations in the drinking water, individuals have developed teeth with bright white patches or dark brown blotches (mottled enamel or fluorosis).
Is it for you? Not everyone is a candidate for bleaching. Teeth discolored from aging have the best results. If you have tooth-colored resin or composite fillings in your front teeth, they will not change color from bleaching and will stick out like a sore thumb after the procedure. If you would like to have your teeth whitened, call it to your dentist's attention at your next check-up visit. If you are not a good candidate, he or she can suggest alternatives such as bonding or porcelain veneers.
There are various options to whitening your teeth. Bleaching can be an in-office procedure (chair side). It may involve several appointments of 30-60 minutes each. The bleaching agent is applied to your teeth and activated with a special light.
There is also an at-home procedure wherein you will wear a custom-made mouth guard filled with a bleaching gel for one hour daily, or at night, for approximately two weeks.
In any case, there is no reason to ever again suffer the embarrassment of discolored teeth.