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901 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo CA 94402   800.633.3333   7 Days & Evenings

Dr. Jimmy Kwan
W.C. Fleming Scholar

TOOTH WHITENING

A custom-made tray is vacuum-formed onto a model of the

individual mouth, and allows the dentist to determine the amount of

gel which contacts the teeth. The design of the tray insures that

there is close contact between the bleaching gel and the surface of

the teeth, without the tray impinging on the gums and causing

discomfort. The tray also prevents contact between the gel and the

saliva. Custom-made trays are more comfortable to wear, and less

visible to others as they can be made of a clear material. Irritation

of the gums can occur because of chemical irritation from the

peroxide, or from physical contact of the tray. Both of these are

more likely to occur with stock trays because of their poor fit. With

custom-made trays, all of the excess gel can be removed easily by

wiping it away from the edges of the tray as soon as the tray has

been inserted into the mouth and pushed home into position over the

teeth.

Gels supplied by dentists for home use in “Home tray vital bleaching”

have higher levels of peroxide compounds than over-the-counter

products and thus are more effective at treating internal stains. As

with the adhesive strips, it is reasonably common to experience mild

tooth sensitivity (particularly to cold and hot foods) from the action

of the peroxide within the teeth, which resolves within several days

after the treatment has stopped. Several professional products may

have desensitizing agents such as potassium nitrate or fluoride

included, which means that problems of tooth sensitivity will be less.

Sensitivity can be reduced by using a desensitizing product supplied

by your dentist, and by reducing the number of hours that the trays

are worn each day, or by using the trays every alternate day.

Patients whose teeth are sensitive to thermal changes before

whitening commences are likely to notice an increase in this

sensitivity during the whitening treatment.

You should keep the trays and obtain new stocks of bleaching gel

from your dentist to repeat the whitening periodically. The trays will

continue to fit your mouth for many years in most cases. Bleaching

using home trays will be unlikely to alter the staining effects of

certain types of antibiotic drugs (e.g. tetracycline) that may have

been used during childhood.