There are two types of whitening procedures. Whitening done in the dental office is known as “Chairside Bleaching”. “In-Home Bleaching” is a custom system dispensed to patients for use at home. Chairside Bleaching takes about one hour. To protect the mouth, a gel-like substance is applied to the gums and a rubber shield is placed around the lips. A chemical solution, the whitening agent, is applied to the teeth. A special light may be used to activate the agent. A home touch-up kit is included in the treatment to keep the teeth as white as possible all year. With In-Home Bleaching, impressions are made of the teeth, custom-fitted bleach carriers are fabricated which patients wear for up to two hours daily or overnight for two weeks. The amount of time and the number of days the custom-fitted tray is worn will vary according to a person’s individual needs. Dr. Green monitors the entire process of Chairside Bleaching and In-Home Bleaching to access the effectiveness and safety of the treatments.
