Our
office helps scores of patients achieve brilliantly white teeth through tooth
bleaching, also known as whitening. Tooth bleaching is a quick and uncomplicated
way to improve your smile and your confidence.
Occasionally, one of our patients will express concern about the safety of
bleaching and any side effects that may occur after a whitening session. Tooth
bleaching is a safe treatment, especially when the process takes place in our
office. Because tooth bleaching is a procedure involving chemical agents, there
is always a slight chance of side effects. Here are the most common side
effects of tooth bleaching.
• TOOTH SENSITIVITY- Some patients notice that their teeth are sensitive either
during the whitening or immediately after the session is complete. This issue
is usually minor and short-lived. Patients experience the sensitivity because
the tooth dentin comes in contact with the bleaching agent. In order to whiten
teeth, the peroxide gel our dentist applies to your teeth must penetrate the
enamel and lighten the color of the dentin inside of the teeth. Sensitivity is
most common during your first whitening treatment and lasts typically anywhere
from a few hours to a day.
• IRRITATION OF SOFT TISSUE- If your gums or the inside of your mouth has
prolonged contact with the tooth bleach, you may experience a mild burning
sensation. Given the concentrated nature of the whitener, this is not unusual
or alarming. In our office, we place guards over your gums to protect them from
exposure to the bleaching agent.
• TEMPORARY GUN DISCOLORATION- Your gums may appear lighter in color after a
tooth bleaching. This is especially true if you are bleaching at home and use
too much peroxide gel in the whitening trays. Just as with the soft tissue
irritation, any gum discoloration is temporary and not a cause for alarm. The
effects will wear off on their own after one or two days.
Even though the potential side effects of tooth bleaching are rare and
relatively minor, you can be sure that our Northridge cosmetic dentist is
diligent in protecting you from any possible side effects. If you have
questions about the side effects of tooth bleaching or would like information
about preventing bleaching side effects, please feel free to contact our
office.
It
is always gratifying to see the happiness of our patients when their Invisalign
is complete. Our staff never tires of seeing the radiant smiles after
successful treatment. However, to keep the brilliant smile that you worked to
achieve, it is vital for you to follow up with the next phase of treatment the
Invisalign retainer.
Some patients mistakenly believe that a retainer is unnecessary or is an additional
process. The retainers are the second, and necessary, phase in your Invisalign
therapy.
An Invisalign retainer is necessary after Invisalign treatment because, once
the procedure is complete, teeth have a natural tendency to slide back into
their misaligned positions. The necessity of retainers increases for patients
who have had a severe malocclusion. If your orthodontic treatment involved
adjusting open bites, gaps, or twisted teeth, your retainer is vital to
maintaining the results of your treatment. This is because extreme
misalignments are the most likely to shift back into their former positions
over time.
There are two types of retainers which are available, fixed retainers and
removable retainers. Each kind has pros and cons.
• FIXED RETAINERS- As the name suggests, fixed retainers are permanent. To
attach these thin wire retainers, our dentist will bond the wire to the back of
the teeth.
Pros: The fixed retainers work very well
Because they are permanent, there is no concern about
losing or breaking retainers.
Cons: It is challenging to floss with fixed retainers. Most patients
do not have the ability needed for the task.
• REMOVABLE RETAINERS- These retainers are similar to Invisalign aligner trays;
the most significant difference is the retainers are harder and less flexible
than the aligners.
Pros: The removable retainers make oral hygiene and eating easy.
Cons: There is a chance a patient may lose or break the retainer.
A patient may forget to wear the retainer, decreasing its
effectiveness.
When you consider all that you have invested in your Invisalign, spending a
little longer wearing a retainer is well worth your time to ensure that your
results will last a lifetime.
If you would like to know more, feel free to contact our office. We would be
happy to answer any questions you may have about Invisalign retainers.
