At Dr. Jason M. Tanaka s office, dental hygienist Mary Jane Takemoto said, everyone has a question about bleaching. What makes bleaching so popular, according to Dr. Steven A. Kumasaka, is its simplicity. Tooth structures do not need to be removed for the procedure, Kumasaka said. Bleaching involves applying a solution with carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide onto a dental prosthesis, or tray, and then applying it to the teeth. Application can be as quick as 20 to 30 minutes or last as long as one to six weeks.
Many offices offer an initial in-office treatment before patients continue with treatments at home.
In his book Bleaching Wins Acceptance as a Treatment of Choice, Ian P. Murphy explains how hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide work to lighten teeth. Because of its molecular density, wrote Murphy, hydrogen peroxide permeates tooth enamel without abrasion to oxidize colorations inside the dentin, causing the teeth to lighten. Carbamide peroxide is an inclusion molecule that works by breaking down into hydrogen peroxide and an area by-product when dissolved in water. Overall, bleaching has not resulted in many long-term side effects. The most common side effect is tooth sensitivity, caused by higher concentrations of peroxide, according to Murphy.