Did you ever play a sport that required a mouthguard? Custom whitening trays are similar to those, as you place them over your teeth with a whitening gel to manage staining. Some tray whitening systems are applied at your dentist’s office, some at home, and some both.

The process of getting a brighter smile through custom whitening trays is a pretty straightforward one.

First, your dentist takes impressions of your teeth and uses them to create molds. You can have molds made of one or both tooth arches, depending on whether you want to whiten your top teeth, your bottom teeth, or both. The dentist then uses these molds to create custom whitening trays that comfortably fit over your teeth.  

Your dentist will give you a bleaching gel to use with your new teeth whitening trays. This will typically contain hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, two bleaching agents proven to safely and effectively whiten teeth. When it’s time to wear your trays, you simply place a small amount of the whitening gel inside each tray and place them over your teeth.  

Your dentist will tell you how often and for how long to wear your custom whitening trays. This could be up to four hours per day for one or two weeks, in which time you should see a significant improvement in teeth whiteness. Be sure to follow their instructions very carefully to avoid unwanted side effects.  

The cost of custom whitening trays from your dentist can range from $300-$500. Over-the-counter teeth whitening trays and other products are much cheaper, but there are a number of benefits to opting for a professional whitening treatment from your dentist instead.

There are several reasons why over-the-counter teeth whitening trays are inferior to custom whitening trays.

• Effectiveness. Your dentist is able to provide stronger whitening products than you can get over the counter, so you can expect much better results in a shorter space of time.
• Fit and Comfort. Custom trays are just that — custom. Compared to one-size-fits-all trays that run large and loose, custom trays give you a tight but comfortable fit. This means more effective, consistent whitening, too.
• Safety. Custom whitening trays prevent gel from leaking out and irritating the gum tissue. And when you get your trays from a dentist, you’ll also know that the accompanying gel contains an effective but safe level of bleaching agent, which is not always the case with over-the-counter products. 

Even though your teeth were whitened with a custom tray, it’s possible tooth sensitivity could arise due to the hydrogen peroxide in the bleaching gel. Most often, colder food items (ice cream, chilled beverages, etc.) will be tolerable within a few days. If the sensitivity continues, visit your dentist.

You’ve got your bright smile back – let’s keep it that way. Here are a few tips on how to preserve the effects of your teeth whitening.

• Brush your teeth twice a day with a whitening toothpaste.
• Use interdental brushes, floss, or water flossers to clean between your teeth daily.
• Avoid foods and drinks that stain your teeth (coffee, tea, wine, carrots, blueberries, etc.).
• Schedule regular dental hygiene appointments.
• Avoid smoking or chewing tobacco.
  

Whether you do the whitening treatment at your dentist or at home, custom whitening trays are a proven and powerful method to get the results you (and your photos) are looking for.

This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.