Whitening or "bleaching" of the teeth has become very popular over the last several years. Recognizing many adolescents have a desire or need for this service we offer many different options for our patients and parents.
For many of our younger patients with primary (baby) teeth remaining, Dr. Hedrick and Dr. Tujios do not recommend the products used in our office as they may cause children's teeth to develop extreme sensitivity. Also because of the difference in the tooth structure of permanent and deciduous teeth an uneven pattern may result. However, should your child desire or have a need for whitening please feel free to discuss this with us, as there are many options available.
In other instances where there is complete permanent dentition, we offer preformed bleach tray kits, and also professional in office whitening. We are also happy to make these services available to the parents of our patients.
Below you will find the policy of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry regarding whitening. This is the policy we follow in our practice.
Policy Statement
The AAPD encourages:
- The judicious use of bleaching for vital and nonvital teeth.
- Patients to consult their dentists to determine appropriate methods for the timing of dental whitening within the context of individualized, comprehensive, and sequenced treatment plans.
- Dental professionals and consumers to consider side effects when contemplating dental bleaching for child and adolescent patients.
- The AAPD discourages full-arch bleaching for patients in mixed dentition.
