teeth whitening

Message

#1 Post by **nycgrrl** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 3:37 pm

can you get your teeth whitened in the middle of treatment? i have attachments -- is that a problem?

#2 Post by **madtownmarie** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 10:06 pm

i have wondered the same thing. my dentist actually gave me whitener to use with my invislign- but i have attachments on several of my lower teeth so I am holding off- he thought it wouldnt make that much of a difference since the attachments arent on my front teeth but it would seem like if you whiten with them on there will be missed areas that are covered by the attachments. i think i will hold off until i am done with treatment.

#3 Post by **DrJasonKTam** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 6:33 am

You can with the trays before attachments are placed or at the end of treatment. If you would like a uniform whitening, you'll need the gel to contact the entire surface of the tooth, and it isn't possible with the attachment present. Speak to your dentist/orthodontist if you have any concerns.

#4 Post by **nycgrrl** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 8:12 am

i wonder if i could have my ortho take my attachments off, whiten my teeth (her office does that), and then put the attachments back on. i wonder if she'll find this request annoying....i just really wish i could whiten them

#5 Post by **melandy** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 2:04 pm

hiya I saw my dentist on Thurs for my second set of alligners and he said he had just been away on a lecture with a top woman who dealt with invislign and whitening and she said that the whitening will whiten the attachments and the teeth below so he said I could start doing mine which I have (i have 7 attachments on the top and 6 on lower)

Sun Dec 13, 2009 12:25 am

That's interesting as my ortho told me that I could only do it before or after treatment. I did mine with nitewhite before treatment (see the results on my blog) but I think they need doing again. I would be interested to hear how yours go. Good luck.

#7 Post by **KUMonkeyMomma** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 3:30 pm

I wondered the same thing about the attachments being on - I currently have my attachments off for a mid course correction and was thinking about doing it while they were off and they weren't so sensitive either (not sure but my dentist said that they tend to be more sensitive while moving and some patients have said the whitening irritates more).

Maybe i'll call them for the whitening stuff - see if they have it right there. I think they sell stuff in stores but i'm thinking that it's not as good as the professional stuff and would need more applications or such.

Let us know how it works!

#8 Post by **melandy** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 3:29 am

Wayhay !!! my teeth are definately whitening and the attachments are too which makes them look so much better still have a way to go with them but it does make me feel better about my teeth they may not be straight yet but they are getting whiter its nite white that I am using 16% - good luck to you to what ever you decide to do - my Dentist Assistants teeth look fab !

#9 Post by **DrJasonKTam** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 9:22 am

Glad to hear your teeth are getting whiter at this time. Not sure where your dentist heard this information, but it is not possible for the material to get under the attachment.

A possible rationale for whitening being ok at this time is that by the time you are completed with treatment and attachments removed, the effects of your whitening will not be as obvious. Whitening is a temporary phenomenon, making teeth look whiter as a result of dehydration. Since they will be rehydrated and remineralized in a few months, the area under the attachment may not show such a large discrepancy.

To those considering whitening... please still consider doing it before treatment without attachments, or at the end of treatment... if you are going to do it at all :).