The first thing
anyone notices is your smile. In dating surveys and relationship polls, both men and women have mutually
preferred “a great smile” as the primary physical feature they look for in a partner. A cosmetic dentist can
help fix yellowed teeth and turn a dull smile into a brilliant one.
Leading Toronto cosmetic dentist Dr. Brian Friedman is passionate about enhancing his patients’ dental health
and beauty. He is an alumnus of the world-renowned Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education and has a
reputation for excellence that attracts patients from all over the Greater Toronto Area. He is an established
expert in Invisalign, porcelain veneers techniques and advanced tooth whitening.
With the help of Friedman, Lifestyle discovers more about the teeth whitening process and answers some
pressing questions about the technique.
Q: How does teeth whitening work?
BF: The whitening chemical is essentially the same for the two principal types of
professional whitening: in office and take home. The chemical delivered to the teeth is carbamide peroxide
but the active ingredient in all cases that whitens the teeth is hydrogen peroxide. The primary difference
between products is their concentration. With higher concentration comes more effective whitening results,
but also higher sensitivity. Sensitivity usually lasts less than 24 hours and in some cases can be quite
uncomfortable.
Q: Can you take us through the step-by-step process of both in-office teeth whitening and
take-home whitening?
BF: With in-office, we begin by lightly polishing the patient’s teeth to remove stains. A
resin “barrier” is applied to the gums and any exposed roots. The chemicals are applied to the teeth, often
no further back than the second bicuspid (also called premolar). Approximately 10 minutes later, the
chemicals are rinsed off and reapplied two or three additional times. In the instance of take-home whitening,
impressions of the upper and lower teeth are taken. Models are fabricated from the impressions and a very
thin plastic sheet is molded over. Whitening product is placed in the resulting “tray,” which fits over the
teeth anywhere from 30 minutes to overnight (up to eight hours). Again, this depends on the initial product
and its concentration.
Q: Which is the most effective out of the two types of professional whitening?
BF: Rarely can results be as good as those from take-home whitening. It is often best to
consider in-office whitening as a boost to take-home whitening. However, there are many people who are very
pleased with in-office whitening and do not take the whitening process any further.
Q: Would you recommend any consumer whitening techniques? Are they as effective as
professional products?
BF: Without question, professional products are more effective than those available in a
pharmacy. For example, Crest [White]strips are effective, but somewhat less than the professional ones,
mainly because the concentration of the whitening chemical is considerably less relative to the professional
products. However, for some people the pharmacy strips are satisfactory. There are consumer products that
indicate they whiten, but the fine print says they simply remove stains and don’t actually bleach teeth.
Q: You have three oral health tests on your website. Can you explain what they are?
BF: I was inspired to write the quizzes in an effort to begin the learning process with
clients or potential clients. The questions were designed to start people thinking about their oral health —
it’s important for patients to be self-aware. For instance, when a tooth breaks, there is more often a
component that causes other issues like tooth sensitivity, jaw soreness or gum recession. My hope is
that people will begin to associate with cause and effect.
Q: Dental health is important. But, aside from unattractive bad breath and discoloured
teeth, what are the potential health risks of poor oral hygiene?
BF: The obvious problem is loss of teeth and consequently difficulty in eating, or at least,
less proficient eating. Diabetes and heart disease have been factors, but it has not been definitively proven
what the bacteria causes when it enters the bloodstream.
Q: Who is the ideal candidate for teeth whitening?
BF: The ideal candidate would have yellowish brown teeth. If they have gum recession, grey
teeth, or experience cold or sweet sensitivity, teeth whitening would not be the best method. Realistic
expectations are important – for example, in-office whitening will never match the results of take-home
whitening products.
Q: Is the teeth-whitening process a permanent or semi-permanent solution?
BF: It is semi-permanent. Teeth will not likely return to their original shade or value
[referring to brightness]. However, they will need to be touched up, which depends on the specific patient.
If they’d like their teeth “Hollywood” white, they may choose to touch them up more frequently. For example,
if they had in-office whitening, they may decide to come in once or twice a year.
Q: What are some tips to keep your teeth white?
BF: Avoid foods or habits that stain, like tea or smoking. However, brushing your teeth
after you drink tea will reduce the opportunity for the tea to stain. Touching up regularly will also keep
one’s teeth whiter longer.
Q: What is the “white for life” program that you offer at the office?
BF: A person will pay $950 for in-office whitening, whitening trays and whitening gel. They
will get one tube of whitening gel once a year for as long as they remain a patient in the office. This will
help them take their teeth back to the degree of whiteness they had previously and keep their teeth always
white, or white for life. •
To take Dr. Brian Friedman’s oral fitness tests, visit toenhance.com.
