1. Whitening (bleaching)uses tooth-bleaching gels that oxidize out the stain. It is not uncommon for teeth to become slightly sensitive during the whitening process. Your dentist takes an impression of your teeth and makes a custom-fitted tray, which you fill with the whitening gel and wear up two hours daily. We recommend 30 minutes at first and then increase the amount of time each day as long as the sensitivity is absent or mild.

Teeth Whitening is mostly from chemical action, the oxidation of stains and residues on the teeth.

As you get older teeth generally turn more dingy or discolored. Eating, drinking and smoking can leave stains. Also wearing appliances like braces can too. At Healthy Smiles here in Katy, we want you to have the best choices of whitening methods that are safe, convenient and effective.

2. How is it done ?

Toothpastes help remove stains from teeth somewhat, they work by abrasives and some limited chemical action. Whitening toothpastes usually contain a small amount of hydrogen peroxide, sometimes upwards of 10%.

At Katy Family Dentists we offer the "Liquid Smile" bleach pen for the at-home process where you paint on the peroxide gel after a thorough brushing before bedtime. This is for people with light stains on their teeth, and young people after they get their braces removed.

Professional at-home treatments usually have a higher percentage of peroxide for removing stains, as high as 30 or 40%. Care has to be taken to protect the gum tissues around the teeth from the bleach. When the bleach contacts the soft tissues it dissolves them, causing discomfort and pain. The gums are usually protected with light foam plastic trays that fit over the teeth, after applying the whitening gel to the inside of the trays. The process usually takes from one to two applications per day (most often before bed) over a timeframe of one to two weeks.



The best protection during the home whitening process is by using custom heat-fitted trays like the ones we create for you in the office here at Katy Family Dentists. These trays keep the bleach right where it is needed on each individual tooth, minimizing pain or discomfort from exposing the gums around the tooth.

In-office treatments are more effective. With a professional using these chemical agents they can be applied carefully, several times in one session, and they can be many times stronger. These take around one hour, and our expert is able to shield the gums and other tissues from the bleaching agents with carefully positioned gels and preparations. These systems for both in-office and at-home bleaching are called Boost from a company called Opalescence.


3. Can you combine in-office with at-home treatments?
That is what we do at Katy Family Dentists for the toughest cases. We want to make sure you get the best, most long-lasting results that are safe and easy, with little or no discomfort.


4. For the whitening cases that require the strongest preparations and the most thorough followup treatments we use the KOR whitening / deep bleaching system involving an in-office treatment, with take-home bleaching trays for 2 to 4 weeks, followed by another in-office session.



5. What do whitening lights do?
Some whitening procedures involve exposing the teeth to high intensity lights. At Katy Family Dentists we get great results without using lights. The action of the lights tends to dehydrate the supporting soft tissues, so they shrink slightly, helping to give the appearance of a larger tooth. These tissues soon rehydrate and fill back in. The lights also tend to dehydrate the teeth, and open up the pores in the enamel where the bleach oxidizes more area. This can increase sensitivity to the bleach and also hot, cold, sweet or salty foods and drinks. The pores in the teeth tend to fill back in soon, as minerals in the saliva are deposited to repair the damage.

6. Do these treatments make my teeth more sensitive?
It is different for each person. Some people do frequent bleaching with no discomfort. Some have very sensitive teeth, so they want less frequent treatments. After whitening procedures people usually notice their teeth are more sensitive to hot and cold or sweet or salty, but the extra sensitivity or discomfort is most often temporary. Your saliva in your mouth soon deposits more minerals to build your teeth back up to be hard and impermeable. We want to minimize the sensitivity of the teeth after the treatment. For this reason we use a variety of methods and we get to know you and help you make choices.

7. How good are self-whitening products from the store?
There are a lot of factors to think about: price is one. Store products generally have a lower price, however they use lower concentrations of peroxide. They usually take longer. The results are usually not as impressive and your teeth tend to lose their luster more quickly.

Here at Healthy Smiles we have the choices for you and your budget. Come in and let us know you would like to improve your smile and we'll help you do it right.

8. How often should I whiten my teeth?
It depends on the method you choose, and it depends on your particular teeth. Are they strong? Are they porous? Are they sensitive? Come by and let us take a look at your smile. Some people want to whiten often, but there is a point where your teeth aren't healing completely enough between treatments and the teeth can erode from the chemical agents.

Some people get a treatment that lasts for years, even though they continue on with normal foods including tea, red wines, etc. It's hard to generalize on this point so that's why we're here for you!

9. Can I whiten my teeth while pregnant?
This is a cosmetic procedure, involving active chemicals. It is almost impossible not to swallow very small quantities of the gels that are used. Since there is so much that science does not yet know about the development of the fetus, it is recommended not to undergo the procedure while pregnant.

10. Can I whiten after the baby is born, while in the nursing stage?
Under normal circumstances, yes. Just ask us.




11. Will these procedures brighten my crowns and veneers too?
No. They only work on your original enamel. Have you had work done involving crowns, bridges and veneers in the smile side of your teeth? Has it been all in the back or inside? It is best to look at the whole situation, especially before you spend a fair amount of money.

Come by and let's do an assessment, we'll go over all the choices you should consider based on your own individual dental health and lifestyle.

Prolonged gel contact with gum or soft tissue may cause gum irritation. Potential irritation can be minimized by not allowing gel to stay on gums/lips. Please do the following:
-Use less gel.
-Upon placing trays, wipe excess gel with absorbent material such as cotton swab or cloth.

Your gums should heal normally in a few days. If this does not occur please call our office.

Whitening treatments can cause tooth sensitivity among some patients: To minimize sensitivity do the following:
-Use a sensitive toothpaste or a high floride toothpaste.
-Try whitening every second or third day.
-Try wear your tray for only 15 minutes, instead of 30 minutes.
-Avoid hot or cold beverages for 30 minutes after treatment.

If you experience severe tooth sensitivity discontinue treatment and call our office. If you have mild/moderate sensitivity and the above suggestions do not releive your pain discontinue bleaching and call our office.

Some people are born with teeth that are more yellow than others. Others have teeth that yellow with age. Your natural tooth color can also be affected by many factors. Surface stains and discoloration can be caused by:

-Tobacco (weather smoked or chewed)
-Drinking coffee, tea, or red wine
-Eating highly pigmented foods such as cherries and blueberries
-Accumulation of tartar deposits, which result from plaque that has hardened.

Internal stains can be caused by:
-Treatment with the antibiotic tetracycline during the time teeth are forming
-Yellowing or graying of the teeth as part of the aging process
-Trauma to the teeth that result in blackening or graying of the tooth (usually just one tooth).
-Ingesting too much flouride when teeth are forming (birth to age 16)

If you have a denture, make sure to remove them daily. Do not sleep in them. Your gums need a chance to have unimpeded circulation. Dentures tend to restrict blood flow. Plaque can accumulate on your denture and on your gum tissue. Use a very soft toothbrush to gently brush your gums. Be sure to keep your dentures clean by brushing them daily with a denture brush and a mild soap. Store your dentures in water when they are not being worn.

Bring the partial or denture here for repair. Do not try to glue the plastic yourself. Do not use superglue, you may destory your denture/partial. Normally, if the denture/partial is repairable and you come in first thing in the morning you will have it back by the end of that day. If not you may need to come back the next day. Please call our office for an appointment.

Teeth with large fillings can easily break or fracture. Call us as soon as possible to have the tooth evaluated and restored. If the broken tooth is not treated, more serious problems can develop. Broken teeth may or may not be sensitive to air and temperature changes. Sensitivity and pain are not nacessarily an indication of how badly the tooth is damaged.

See us as soon as possible to have the crown/bridge recemented. If this is not possible, you can use a denture adhesive(Fixodent) or temporary cement (Tempit) to place the crown back on. Both of these products can be purchased at local drug stores. It should not be difficult to put into place. When you cannot put the crown in correctly, save it, and bring it to your appointment. We will do the cementation. The reason the crown came out may make it impossible for the dentist to recement the old crown. That decision will be made during your examination.

Swollen gums are a sign of an infection. The infection may be caused by a dying nerve inside the tooth or a periodontal (gum) problem. Rinse your mouth with warm salt water. Call us as soon as possible. The swelling may not be accompanied by pain. Either way, it needs immediate attention.

Place the tooth in milk, saline or the patient\'s saliva. Do not try to scrub or wash the tooth. Get the tooth and the patient to us as soon as possible. The faster the tooth can be repositioned, the better the odds that the tooth can be saved. Time is crucial. The above does not apply to baby teeth, they can not be reimplanted. If you are unsure bring the tooth to us.

A Toothache or a sensitive tooth can be caused by several different types or problems. At times it is a sign of a dying nerve inside the tooth. Over-the-counter pain relief medication can temporarily relieve the pain. Contact us for an appointment as soon as you notice the problem. Slight pain if left untreated, can progress into severe pain and/or swelling. Commonly tooth pain can be eliminated with endodontic treatment (root canal)

Yes. In orthodontic and dental practices worldwide, Invisalign has been effective at straightening. Nine out of ten patients are "very or extremely satisfied" with their Invisalign experience.

Invisalign uses 3-D computer imaging technology to map the complete treatment from start to finish. From this plan, a series of custom-made aligners unique to your treatment is produced. Each aligner is worn for about two weeks and gradually moves your teeth, before being replaced by the next in the series until the final position is achieved.

It depends on the kind of treatment you need as well as how long it takes. Invisalign treatment is often similar to the cost of traditional braces. If you have orthodontic insurance coverage, Invisalign is normally covered to the same extent as conventional braces.

Once your root canal is completed it is recommended that a crown or onlay is place. The tooth becomes weak after a root canal and a crown/onlay will prevent the tooth from fracturing. Also, a crown/onlay keeps the root canal from becoming reinfected.

There is one exception to this rule: front teeth do not always need a crown/onlay but the hole where the doctor did the root canal needs to be filled.

Once your root canal is finished, the tooth is usually restored with a crown/onlay.