Who is a good candidate for laser teeth whitening or home teeth bleaching treatment procedures.

Teeth whitening with laser, L.E.D based, cool light, blue light or with home teeth whitening trays, strips or with teeth bleaching kits is a low-risk procedure and therefore it is suitable for a wide range of patients.

Candidates who are looking for teeth whitening typically have mild to moderate discoloration and they want to achieve a sparkling smile.

However, there are certain factors that may preclude patients from being good candidates for treatment. These include:

• Patients with fabrications or restorations on the front facing teeth (such as porcelain veneers, dental crowns, or dental bonding) ::  Unlike natural teeth, restorative material does not respond to bleaching agents. Typically, if these patients do choose teeth whitening, they will also need to replace their restorations. The new crowns or veneers will match the enhanced colour of their smile.
• Patients with intrinsic stains :: Intrinsic stains are grey discolorations, white spots on the teeth, or discoloration that results from a “dead” tooth. These stains affect the underlying layers of the tooth. In general, teeth whitening is most effective on extrinsic stains (the yellow or brown stains) that affect the outer enamel. However, new cool light blue L.E.D based laser teeth whitening treatment procedures can target both extrinsic and intrinsic stains.
• Patients with extreme tooth sensitivity or worn enamel   :: Whitening may exacerbate these conditions.
• Patients with bruxism or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD)  ::  Whitening trays may worsen these conditions. If patients with these health concerns wish to lighten their smiles, they may be better candidates for in-office whitening.