Internal and external bleaching are the two main methods of teeth whitening.

• Internal bleaching – Internal bleaching is where the bleaching agent is placed inside the tooth. Firstly, the roots of the teeth are prepared by filling them with rubber, and the bleach inserted into holes that are drilled into the teeth (this may be over two separate treatments). Temporary fillings are then fitted. On your return to the dentist, the fillings are removed and the bleach taken out. The remaining holes are then filled using a natural colored filling to match the new tooth color.
• External bleaching – External bleaching means that the bleaching product is placed on the outside of the tooth. This can be done at home, at the dentist or as a combination of the two. If you choose to use home bleaching, you will need to visit your dentist who will take a mould of your teeth. This is to create two rubber trays that will sit flush around the teeth. Once home, these trays are then filled with the bleaching product and should be left in for a few hours at a time to achieve the desired color. If you choose for your dentist to perform the teeth whitening procedure, a bleaching agent is painted onto the teeth and a bright light shined intensely at them. Sometimes a rubber seal may be placed around the gums to protect them from the light.