Research has shown that take-home bleaching has more successful results than in-office procedures. For this reason, we no longer do in-office bleaching, as the solutions are harsh, and the results unstable. A take-home kit allows you to wear the custom trays with bleaching gel for up to 30 minutes at a time to release the whitening oxygen radical into your teeth. Depending on your shade, you can get results in less than a week. Once your teeth are light enough to your liking, it only requires occasional applications to refresh the white.
As we instruct in office at the time of delivering your custom trays, you must apply the peroxide gel with the thin applicator tip into the area of the tray that is in contact with the area you wish to whiten. A small drop of 2-3 mm is usually enough. After seating the tray into place, wipe off the excess with a brush along the gums. If you overfill the trays with gel, the gel may cause a burning sensation on the gums. If that happens, take off the tray and brush off the gel on your tissues. It’ll have a white spot burn if it was on your gums long enough. That will heal, but it may take a day or two.
Your teeth may become sensitive to temperatures while you’re in the whitening process. This usually ceases shortly after you stop the bleaching procedures. Application of sensitive toothpastes often helps to alleviate the discomfort. You may want to take a night or two off from bleaching when that happens.
The Poladay whitening gel is sensitive to oxygen and light, so the manufacturer advises to reseal the syringe with the original plug, and to replace the gel into the foil wrapper to protect from light when not in use. Store in a cool area also. Remember that the next time you use the gel again, that the gel in the applicator tip is likely ineffective as it has been exposed to air, so discharge that first.
After the teeth reach the desired shade and it doesn’t seem to improve anymore, you’re done! After a few months, you may need a touch up, especially if you’ve had staining foods like red wine, coffee, curry, or saffron. A single or double application of gel will likely refresh it back again, so don’t lose those custom trays!