Teeth whitening is perhaps the most commonly recommended cosmetic dentistry procedure. Teeth are often stained from smoking, food, drink (coffee, tea or red wine) or poor oral hygiene. Bleaching the teeth can enhance the appearance of your smile.

Your smile is important. It's one of the first things you notice when you meet someone. A whiter, brighter smile is beautiful - it can help you feel better about yourself and make a memorable impression.

Your lifestyle and the aging process can stain and darken your teeth. Many things we do on a regular basis can contribute to stained teeth, such as drinking coffee, tea, cola and red wine or smoking.

How is the procedure accomplished?

The teeth and gums are first evaluated to determine if the dental and gum tissues are sufficiently healthy to do the whitening procedure. The teeth are evaluated for conditions such as bondings, fillings and crowns that will remain almost the same color as they are. The outsides of the teeth are cleaned with a thick dental cleaning paste. The surfaces of the teeth are prepared for one minute with a wetting agent. A 35% peroxide gel is painted on the teeth. The "Plasma Arc Light" is shined on the each tooth for three seconds and the process is immediately repeated. The peroxide gel is allowed to remain on the teeth for 8 minutes; the gel is then rinsed off and the above procedure is repeated again.

How long does the whitening last?

2-5 years have been reported. If you continue to maintain the result with care and have your teeth cleaned every 6 –12 months, the result can maintain 5 years. If you have poor oral hygiene, do not have your teeth cleaned every 6-12 months, drink a lot of coffee and tea, smoke, eat a lot of food with staining spices like saffron, mustard, have wine often, you are less likely to maintain the newly achieved whiteness for a lengthy period of time.