Shine Teeth Whitening Instructions
We Love to See Your Smile Shine!
A bright smile never goes out of style, and at Shine Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry, we’re here to help you keep yours at its best. A whiter, brighter smile can boost confidence and help you feel your most confident every day. We love helping patients achieve smiles that look healthy, fresh, and natural. Professional teeth whitening is a simple and effective way to enhance your smile any time of year.
Important: Please read before using the teeth whitening gel.
Dental Work
The whitening (bleaching) gel is effective only on natural teeth. It will not whiten or damage any dental work such as bonding, caps, crowns, bridges, fillings, or other artificial restorations. You may need to have your dental work replaced to match the new shade of your teeth.
Teeth stained by tetracycline (an antibiotic) or those with a grayish tone may be more challenging to whiten and may have varying results. Additionally, the exposed root portions of teeth, which occur with gum recession, will not bleach.
Teeth with amalgam (silver) fillings near or behind the front teeth may develop a greenish tint after long-term bleaching. Teeth with significant translucency (see-through areas) may become even more translucent, leading to a darker appearance. If you have any concerns about these issues, please let us know.
Sensitivity
It’s common to experience some tooth or gum sensitivity when using peroxide-based bleaching gels. This is not harmful. If sensitivity increases, reduce the usage time and/or frequency until it subsides.
To minimize sensitivity, our professional whitening gel contains potassium nitrate and fluoride ions, which help reduce sensitivity while still achieving professional whitening results.
Warnings
- Keep the bleaching gel out of reach of children.
- Do NOT use during pregnancy or while nursing.
Instructions
Before Treatment
Brush and floss your teeth just before bleaching. The whitening gel works best on clean teeth. Ensure that the retainers are clean and dry before applying the gel, as moisture can reduce the gel’s effectiveness and slow the whitening process.
Applying the Bleaching Gel
Do not overfill the trays with gel. Place a SMALL drop of whitening gel halfway up the inner front surface of the retainer for each tooth you want to whiten—you can skip the molars if desired. Aim to use ¼ to ? of the syringe per retainer.
Inserting the Retainers
Place the retainer over your teeth and gently press for a snug fit. Wipe away any excess gel that seeps over the edge of the tray and onto your gums. Hold the trays in place with one hand and use your finger or a tissue to remove the excess gel from your gums.
Wear for 8 to 10 hours or overnight.
After Whitening
Remove the retainer and clean any excess gel with a soft toothbrush, then rinse your mouth.
Caring for Your Retainers and Gel
Clean the retainer with a soft toothbrush and cool tap water. For longer shelf life, the gel may be refrigerated, but do not freeze it.
Storage life is 1 year unrefrigerated and 2 years refrigerated.
