This lady had an important event coming up later in the year. She did the right thing and got in early to make an improvement in her smile. She was in her 40’s and felt her teeth had become more yellow. We are often asked, “Why have my teeth turned yellow?” As we age the nerve and pulp vessels can shrink as the dentine lays down more tooth structure. Sometimes this secondary dentine is quite dark. In addition, the enamel can have some signs of thinning. These factors and just some of the elements that contribute to the loss of youthful white teeth.
Fortunately we have whitening products that can make a big difference without damage to the tooth structure. Generally we find that low and slow does the best job of achieving a lasting and natural looking result. This means low concentrations of carbamide peroxide for a longer period of time - like overnight applications for 2 weeks. In this case, Dr Gourlay prescribed at home whitening gel overnight for 14 nights. This patient didn’t have any sensitivity, although whitening can often cause cold sensitivity and zingers. She used custom made trays with gingival seal to maintain the gel’s contact with her teeth while she slept. These trays can be used for top up applications for just a night or two before her big day.
