WHITENING
Whitening involves having impressions taken from which we fabricate custom trays here in our office.  A carbamide peroxide gel is placed in these trays and the trays with gel are worn for about 2 hours per day. The entire process takes 3-4 weeks of daily use.  The tray method is recommended for severely stained teeth and it may take several months of use to see significant color improvement. For maintenance of whitened teeth the trays should be used every several months.

VENEERS
Veneers are a dental procedure in which a covering is placed over the outside (visible area) of the tooth. Veneers are usually only done to the part of the teeth that are visible when talking or smiling. The procedure can be direct or indirect.

The direct technique usually involves placing composite resin on the outside of the tooth using bonding. This method is usually referred to as bonding.

The indirect technique usually involves two appointments because the veneers will be fabricated at a dental laboratory. At the first appointment the teeth are prepared, impressions taken, and the teeth are given a temporary covering. In two to three weeks the veneers are back from the laboratory, the temporaries are removed and the veneers are bonded to the teeth. The laboratory fabricated veneers are usually made using porcelain or pressed ceramic, and are very esthetic.