A bright, white smile is a major confidence-booster, especially during teen years. However whitening products are meant for natural tooth enamel - and won't work on fillings, crowns or veneers. And sensitive teeth, cavities, cracked teeth and gum disease should be addressed before bleaching, because whitening treatments can exacerbate these problems, leading to unneeded pain.

At Palm Valley Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Olga can also diagnose the reasons teeth may not be their whitest. Teeth can be darker because of injury, dental treatment, vitamins, iron supplements, decay or antibiotic treatment. It is also possible that perceived discoloration isn't really discoloration at all. and just a reflection of the natural variations in human tooth coloring. Natural teeth are rarely perfectly white.

Children should wait until they are in their mid-teens before considering any kind of whitening procedures, because their teeth will have fully erupted and tooth pulp will be fully formed.

One of the biggest concerns about teeth bleaching is the potential harm to children's gum tissue. Over time, bleaching chemicals can cause major gum irritation and pain. There is evidence that bleaching chemicals can cause cellular changes to the gums.

To mitigate any potential gum damage, parents should make an effort to reduce the amount of bleaching chemicals on their child's gums. Custom-made bleaching trays ordered from our office can minimize the contact between the gums and the bleaching agent and lessen the chance for irritation.

It's important to consult with the specialist first, because Dr. Olga is not only trained in the bleaching treatment systems, but the biological and chemical effects of bleach to the teeth. She is trained to resolve any problems a patient may experience.

Palm Valley Pediatric Dentistry - Goodyear, Avondale, Surprise PVPD, Phoenix