Teeth Whitening Options for People With Sensitive Teeth

In our dental office, we provide teeth whitening services for those looking to improve the appearance of their smile.  The results are dramatic, as this simple procedure can whiten teeth by up to eight shades or more.  This makes it perfect for those wanting to have a more youthful appearance and for those looking to get rid of dark stains on their teeth.  With the popularity of the procedure, many people with sensitive teeth ask us if it is safe to have their teeth whitened, and as with many things, the answer is – it depends.

A professional teeth whitening in our office is entirely safe and the American Dental Association has even published a paper titled, “Tooth Whitening/Bleaching: Treatment Considerations for Dentists and Their Patients” providing further tips on how to prevent or reduce sensitivity. In their report, they suggest that patients with sensitivity concerns use a toothpaste containing potassium nitrate for a week or two before having their teeth whitened and afterwards if necessary.  They also suggest having a dentist place potassium nitrate into teeth whitening trays and placing the trays on the teeth for thirty minutes prior to beginning the treatment.  This simple step, when performed by a dentist, can prevent any potential sensitivity according to their findings.

The reason that it is safe for those with sensitive teeth is that we complete a dental exam first.  In order to ensure that your teeth are ready for a treatment, we will check to see if there are any cavities or gum disease in the mouth prior to starting the bleaching or whitening process.  This is important because many people that use an over the counter teeth whitening solution find that they experience sensitivity, not because of the whitening but because their teeth were not healthy enough for the treatment in the first place.  This is a common risk that is entirely avoided when having the procedure done professionally.

Another concern with over the counter whitening kits is that if you buy the whitening trays, they are designed to fit everyone.  Technically, nothing can so it's like buying an XL t-shirt and expecting it to be the perfect fit when you are a medium – it won’t be.  Whitening trays are the same way, and since they won’t fit perfectly, when buying them at the store, the whitening solution may leak out and as it does, your gums can become irritated.  Gum tissue is fairly sensitive so anything abrasive touching it may cause unnecessary irritation, and this can be avoided by having the trays custom-made in our dental office.  With the perfect fitting tray, the solution will remain in place, and the treatment will be far more comfortable.

If you would like to learn more about the procedure, we recommend that you schedule a consultation.  While there are many commercials promoting products that will transform your smile, it is always wise to be under the care of a dentist.  After examining your teeth, we will make a recommendation for the best way to proceed. 

The Science Involved in Dental Implants and Replacing Teeth

Dental implants are certainly not a new method of replacing teeth. In fact, the technology has been developing for years, and for the first time in history we can provide tooth replacements that look, feel, and act like the natural tooth. It all starts with bio-integration. Bio-integration is the process by which the body, far from rejecting a foreign object, actually accepts the implant as a natural object and works together with it in symbiosis. We start with a titanium implant for a number of reasons. First, titanium is the only metal that we know of that is capable of osseointegration, which is essential for bio-integration. Additionally this is a metal that is incredibly strong, while also being incredibly light which is perfect for making an implant. Finally, titanium has the ability to create a thin film around itself, which prevents the metal from being influenced by corrosive elements.

Since dental implants are dependent on integration, we have developed a number of techniques that help with the process. For example, we now use a customized surface with most of our implants. Implant customizations can include implants that have been sprayed in plasma, have been blasted by grit, etched with acid, or coated with hydroxyapatite. All bones contain hydroxyapatite, which is a naturally occurring substance. When we insert your implant into the bone, having coated it with hydroxyapatite, the body is tricked into believing that the dental implant is actually part of the bone. This greatly speeds up the process of bio-integration, as well as healing. In addition to using innovative technological advancements, we also have to place the right kind of dental implant for the situation. We make these decisions based, typically, on the amount of bone density and the ability of the jawbone to support the implant.

The most commonly installed dental implants are called a gum form implant. These implants, which are also known as endosteal implants, are installed directly underneath the gum in the site where we plan on installing a crown or some other false tooth device. The false tooth is then hooked to the implant using a small post that is left exposed. In order for use to perform this kind of an implant, the bone has to be in pretty good shape since the security and stability of the implant depends directly on the bone itself. Gum form implants are traditionally cone-shaped, most commonly a small nail or screw is inserted into the bone.

If however, we find that the bone cannot withstand a traditional implant we will use a device known as a Ramus Frame implant. These implants are designed for people whose jaw does not have the required density or, worse, may fracture so they are designed for stability and to help strengthen the jaw itself. These installed are done a distance away from the site, usually in the back corners of the mouth by the wisdom teeth and in the center of the mouth near the chin. A thin metal strip is left exposed so that we can attach the bridge or denture to the dental implant. We will discuss all of the options with you during an exam.