Whitening creates a more esthetic appearance by reversing the discoloration of tooth enamel. Determining whether a patient is a candidate for whitening is largely based upon diagnosing the exact cause of the tooth discoloration. Careful clinical examination and X-rays will help determine if whitening is indicated for the strength and condition of the patient's teeth.

Whitening is done simply in the comfort of your own home. Patients have an initial appointment at the dental office to determine their gums are healthy, then impressions are taken and custom trays are made to fit snugly around their teeth. When the trays are picked up a couple of days later, patients are trained on how to perform the procedure. Basically, each night after thoroughly brushing their teeth, they put a small quantity of a special whitening gel into their custom trays and place them over their teeth. Then they go to sleep. In the morning they remove the trays, clean them carefully, and brush their teeth normally. This is done over a period of two to three weeks until the desired result is achieved. Although this is not a permanent treatment, annual touchups of only a few days at a time can maintain the original whitened result.