Great leaps have been made in recent years in tooth whitening. Today, a dull off-white smile can become a dazzling one safely, painlessly and affordably.

Passive bleaching, conducted by the patient at home under the dentist's supervision, has been found to be far safer and affordable (about half the cost) of in-office bleaching. The outcome has been found to be every bit as good. It is also far more effective than the bleaching promised by the over-the-counter whitening toothpastes.

Passive bleaching has been found to work effectively for patients experiencing tooth discoloration for any of the following reasons:

Consumption of such staining substances as coffee, tea or tobacco

Patients wear a custom-fitted appliance containing a tooth whitening gel. The solution is worn at night for several weeks.

To ensure that the whitening system is working effectively and the teeth and gums are responding well, periodic monitoring appointments are scheduled with the dentist.