A good tooth whitening gel should not burn the gums and cause unnecessary hot and cold tooth whitening sensitivity. The stronger the whitening gel, the more it tends to cause irritation. If it's too strong or if it's used too long, a tooth whitener can cause extended tooth sensitivity with difficulty eating regular foods or in the worse case, it can kill a tooth causing the need for a root canal. In many cases, the teeth have to be desensitized with a flouride gel to reduce the tooth sensitivity before the procedure can be done. Unfortunately, this problem can not be determined until after the whiteing procedure has begun.

         An excellent tooth whitening gel should be liquid enough to absorb into a tooth surface through the pores between the enamel crystals during the tooth whitening treatment. All enamel crystals are made out of the mineral hydroxyapatite and have the same beautiful white color no matter who you are. It's the organic material stuck between the crystals that gives the darkened color to teeth. Removing this organic material is what really whitens the smile. As the organic material dissolves, the natural white color of the hydoxyapatite is revealed.

         The tooth whitening system used with the tooth whitening gel is as important as the whitener itself. A tooth whitening tray method allows for a longer period of contact and gives the whitener more time to absorb into the teeth. This give a deeper more permanent white color that lasts longer. The long contact period with the trays also allows the use of a weaker whitener that causes less problems. However, many patients want instant results and prefer power whitening treatments, such as Zoom 2. This procedure is completed in about and hour and does not require extended wear of a tray. Many patients have both procedures, the Zoom 2 to get instant results and the traditional tray method later to keep the teeth white.

         There is a lot of debate about what the best tooth whitening gel is and also about which bleaching method is the best. The cosmetic dentists at the Atlanta Dental Group PC combine professional bleaching with Cosmetic Dentistry to create a custom beautiful smile for each patient. There is no doubt that having a cosmetic dentist supervise your bleaching is the best way to go. Our dentists are dedicated to their patients' good health and well being. You are welcome to join the Atlanta Dental Group PC family of patients. For an free cosmetic consultation with Atlanta Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Mark Allan Padolsky, call 404-874-7428.