There are several options to achieve a brighter smile through: dental bonding, porcelain veneers (advances in technology has  allowed for placement of dental veneers with out the need to reduce existing tooth structure), porcelain crowns, and bleaching. However, bleaching is the least aggressive, least expensive, and least time consuming.  Therefore, bleaching is the ideal option to obtain a whiter smile.

Bleaching can be done in two ways: at home or in a dental office (chair-side). At home procedure, typically consist of custom fitted whitening trays and a 10 % – 15% concentration oxidizing agent gel. The gel is placed on the trays, and the trays are worn usually at night. Change in color are usually seen with in 5 to 14 days.

In the in office procedure, whiting is achieved in one office visit.. It usually takes 20 – 40 minutes to apply a protective gel to your gums to protect the oral soft tissues and one hour with the whiting gel in contact with tooth structure, usually three 20 minutes intervals.

The ADA recommends to have your teeth checked by a dentist before undergoing any whitening method. The dentist should examine the patient thoroughly: take a health and dental history (including allergies and sensitivities), observe hard and soft tissues, placement and conditions of restorations, and sometimes radiographs to determine the nature and depth of possible irregularities.

Dr. Ricardo Castaneda, offers his patients the ability to schedule a dentist whitening appointment in the evenings or on the weekend in Miami. Just contact us through this site or our main site www.drrcdental.com.

The brand of the toothbrush is not as critical as the type of bristle and the size of the head. A soft toothbrush with a small head is recommended because medium and hard brushes tend to cause irritation and contribute to recession of the gums, and a small head allows you to get around each tooth more completely and is less likely to injure your gums. It’s unnecessary to “scrub” the teeth as long as you are brushing at least twice a day and visiting your dentist at least twice a year for cleanings.