Video Website powered by Einstein IndustriesMartin & Winkler, D.D.S., P.C.

EMILE MARTIN, D.D.S.: Tooth whitening or bleaching as it's referred to has certainly been a hot topic, and the community seems to be interested in it. Initially, we were a little bit conservative about what we wanted to do with it, wanted to be sure that we weren't doing any detrimental damage to any of the patients' teeth. That has appeared not to be the case.

Predominantly what we do is to take some impressions, make a tray and then give the patient some material to take home with them over 7 to 10 days. We can use anything from a 10% carbon [inaudible] material to 35%, although that's pretty high. The patient will wear it for four hours. You don't really have to sleep with it. Once the four hours are gone, then the material is basically shot. But most people want to do it while they're sleeping, and so they'll put the tray in that way. But you can do it during the day if that's more helpful to you. And again, it's for anyone who wants to brighten their smile up.

The only thing that most patients might feel is a little tingling in the gum tissue, or if they have exposed roots where the tissue has receded, they might get a little tingling sensation. And if it's something that gives them major difficulty, then we obviously want to stop the procedure. But, again, most people don't seem to have that issue.