O/T: Teeth Whitening?

Aquajock

Aquajock

Cathlete
Hi, all! Seriously off-topic, but has anyone ever had their teeth professionally whitened, by bonding, veneering, in-office bleaching and/or laser treatments, etc? And if so, were you satisfied with the results?

After decades of dedicated coffee drinking (and no signs of slowing down, to be honest)my teeth are the only part about me that really "looks 40"! And I'm getting oh so tired of it. I'm not really interested in those treatments where you put a shovel full of gel in your mouth and hold it there for hours.

I've been reading about the Brite Smile treatment which combines gel and laser to whiten the teeth 6 to 10 shades in one hour. Kinda tempting . . .

Anyone been there, done that and lived to tell the tale?

Thanks!

Annette
 
Hi Annette!

A subject near and dear to my heart. I am addicted to hot tea instead of coffee (I could no sooner give it up than gouge out my eye!) and so my teeth suffer the consequences.

About 2 years ago I tried the dentist bleaching method - the molds of my teeth that were made to hold the bleaching gel were very light and quite comfortable but I was not at all pleased with the results. It cost $300.00 for 2 wks worth of gel and my teeth were "brighter" but not "whiter". The dentist took before and after photos and tried to convince me there was a difference but, politely put - he was full of it. I've since changed dentists.

Just this week I have started using those Crest White Strips. These are pretty cool. You wear the strip 2x a day 30 minutes each for 28 days. I just started on Monday and I think I will see a difference by the end. The directions say you can use another box immediately after if you want even whiter results. And the BEST thing is they will refund your money 100% if you are not satisfied. The instructions tell you to use all the upper strips first and if you're not satisfied simply return all 28 lower strips and you will get your full refund. The box of strips runs about $40.00. Results are supposed to last for 6 months.

I have also read about Brite Smile. I do think for those blazing white teeth :7 a laser/gel treatment is probably the most effective (and I'm sure probably the most costly). It is tempting. I also think genetics (once again) play a part in how white you can get.

And you know what - We CAN get Cathe into this topic - in PS BBA the camera zooms in on her as she's explaining shrugs and her teeth are brilliant!

Keep smiling! :7

Lorrie
 
Actually, is anything "off topic" in this section of the forum? According to the description, its for basically anything you want to talk about.
 
Hi,
I had bonding done years ago and I was totally thrilled with the results. My teeth were slightly discolored, and I had some small spaces to cover up. It was a bit pricey (several hundred dollars a tooth) but I'd wait tables all over again to have it done. One of the other women at the restaurant where I worked liked them so much, she had hers done too. Try to find a dentist that specializes in cosmetic dentistry. It's sort of an art.....If they shape them wrong or pick too white of a color, one could end up with teeth that look like chicklets(sp?). Anyway, that's my two cents.
Bonnie
 
Hi Annette,

I believe this is the treatement my dentist gave me a year ago. I was in and out of the office in an hour or so much whiter than arriving to the office. After the treatment, I had to wear a "retainer" with the gel for the next week or so to finish the treatment. I rarely have to do touch ups now; just once or twice every six months or so. The only side effect of having this done is that your teeth are really sensitive to hot and cold for 24 hours after the in-office treatment.

Hope this helps.
Lorrayne
 
I was going to try the dentist bleaching method. When the Crest Whitestrips hit the stores, I asked my dentist about them. Since he wanted me to purchase his kit for $300, he didn't wholly endorse the Whitestrips. The only negative thing he said about them was that the strips don't cover all of your teeth and that it makes your gums very sensitive. I figured I'd try the Whitestrips-- (I lucked out 'cause I found them on sale, in addition to having a coupon). I also bought the sensitive toothpaste at the same time. I was very pleased with the results. I know I'll never have a truly sparkling white smile, but the Whitestrips definitely made a difference. You wear the strips twice a day for 30 minutes for 14 days- - (upper teeth for 14 days and then the lower for 14 days). The 30 minutes goes by fast. I'd put them on getting ready for work and at night after dinner cleaning up.
 
Interesting. My son's orthodonist assistant recommend the Crest strips once he gets his braces off. She felt they were a very good alternative to the very expensive dentist treatments.

Dorothy
 
I purchased the molds that hold gel from the dentist about 4 years ago, and was eventually very happy with the results. There are different levels of bleaching agent. They started me with the lowest percentage, and gradually took me up to the highest before I started seeing results. They are hesitant to start at the high level because it makes the roots very sensitive. It took about 2 months of 2 hours a day to get them to look white. If I had started at the highest percentage, I'm sure it would have taken much less time. They gave me flouride to brush on my roots every day to keep the sensitivity in check.

I have purchased a touchup set of gel once a year for 50.00, but this year I decided to try the Crest Whitestrips. They are very comfortable, but do not work very well. The bleaching agent is actually a different, weaker peroxide chemical than what you can get from the dentist (I can't remember the names). I'm sure they work for minor stains, but my teeth stain very easily. I think I'll go back to the dentist for my touchup gel next year.

Sandi M
 
Totally natural option

My teeth stay amazingly white if I occasionally brush them with pure baking soda. I just dip a wet toothbrush into a little jar I keep filled with cheap/natural/safe baking soda, really glob it on, and then scrub my teeth. Afterwards, they look very very white. I kid you not. I do it once every 2 weeks or so. It tastes nasty, but that's about the only problem. If it works for you, it saves you hundreds of dollars, and exposure to God knows what wierd chemicals.
 
HELP!

I'm so glad someone posted on this topic...

I'm scheduled to have my teeth whitened ($300) through my dentist, then I'll need to have my bonding re-done (I chipped my two front teeth when I was young and had them built up with bonding, which doesn't bleach with the teeth).

I have a lot of tea stains in between my teeth and my teeth have a general yellow-ness to them (ick).

My questions are:
Does anyone know anything about Discus Dental (That's the whitening process my dentist uses)
Anybody have experience with the PROFESSIONAL Crest Whitening strips? (I found them online when I did a search for the whitening strips; they cost around $45).

I'm trying the baking soda idea...does that get rid of tea/coffee stains?

Thanks for any input!!!! my appt is Oct 22 for the mold of my teeth, I may just cancel...
Thanks!!!!!
 
RE: HELP!

Yes, the baking soda gets rid of tea and coffee stains for me. I am so surprised at how well it works.
 
RE: HELP!

Hi, Kellib! I'm in The Experimental Stage myself. Re Discus Dental, I think they have a website (www.discusdental.com) that puffs all of their products. They are coming out with a professional dentist process/product that is supposed to be competitive with Brite Smile, an in-office process that uses bleaching (I think) AND laser. Brite Smile is expensive, and I'll bet the new Discus Dental process is to.

I opted, at this time, of an over-the-counter thing that I found at Walgreen's - same premise as your dentist's, I think, with the plastic horseshoes in the mouth etc. I want to do the Crest Whitening Strips as well, after I'm done with the horseshoe in the mouth thing. You do not have to buy the strips online; I've seen them in grocery stores and Target.

That probably gives you about one nanogram of useful information. Sorry, and good luck!

Annette
 
RE: HELP!

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Hi!

I'm 8 days in to the 14 days of Crest White Strips (I got them at Walgreens - $38.00) and I am definitely seeing results. The results with the strips are better than what I saw when I used the dentist molds and gel. I had a dentist appt yesterday for x-rays and he didn't seem too convinced about the strips. He did say to be careful bleaching teeth that have underlining gray in them because once you bleach away the yellow stains you may be left with only gray instead of white. The Crest box instructions say to consult your dentist beforehand to see if you are a candidate for bleaching and I guess that's why. Gray is either genetic or related to medication during tooth development. In any event, even though I have some underlining gray, the strips are working for me - I'll never have a dazzling white smile but it is brighter and I'm satisfied. I plan on trying mogambo's baking soda remedy to keep the whiteness the strips have given me. The dentist assures me that a professional cleaning every 6 months also blasts away tea stains. Also, Crest does offer a money back guarantee.

Of course, the strips won't work on bonding so I'm assuming you'll still have to have that re-done.
Just my 2 cents!

Lorrie
 
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