Teeth Whitening

At a young age our teeth are healthy white. But overtime the enamel coating the tooth is so slowly worn down. Causing our teeth to become stained and yellow, which is why teeth whitening is become increasingly popular today. There are a few methods for whitening. They include at home and in office. With in office treatments, you will see faster results, receive the safest treatment for bleaching the teeth, and yield the whitest smile. So, don’t settle for teeth that have become stained from years of coffee drinking, tobacco use, or just aging. Ask your dentist about whitening options that may be right you.


Have you ever looked in the mirror or at a picture of yourself and thought your smile could be whiter? Dr. Wright can discuss several whitening options with you during an exam. Whitening may not correct all shades of tooth discoloration—yellow-brown shades bleach well, while gray-blue shades don’t bleach optimally—and doesn’t change the shade of existing restorations such as fillings or crowns.

If Dr. Wright determines you’re a candidate for whitening, your options are:

  • Home bleaching, after we make custom trays from impressions of your upper and lower teeth. We then demonstrate and dispense a kit that contains a peroxide gel you’ll wear for one to two hours daily for one to two weeks until your teeth reach the desired shade, which can be two to three shades lighter. Note that:
    • You can do touch-up whitening using the custom bleach trays as needed but preferably after dental cleanings, when teeth are free of stain and buildup.
    • We choose your home bleach gel concentration from three options, depending on the sensitivity of your teeth: 10, 15 or 22%.
  • In-office bleaching, which is a higher concentration of bleach. Usually left on the teeth for 20 to 30 minutes, it can lighten teeth up to a shade in this one application. It is best used with home bleaching as a “jump start” to the whitening process.
  • Whitening toothpastes, which don’t change the shade of teeth through a chemical process but rather, use mild abrasives to remove surface stain.
Dr. Kimberly Wright

Dr. Kimberly Wright

Dr. Kimberly Wright graduated from the University of Oregon and Oregon Health and Science University. She is a lifelong learner, taking over 100 hours of continuing education annually. Dr. Wright earned the prestigious Mastership Award from the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) and is a past MasterTrack Director for Oregon’s AGD, for which she had also served as past president. She was the past trustee for the Oregon Dental Association too. She is a member of the American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, American Academy of Orofacial Pain, Pierre Fauchard Academy, and the American College of Dentists.