Teeth Whitening
Whitening lifts stain out of natural enamel. Yellowing from coffee, tea, and age usually lightens. It does nothing to crowns or fillings, and it leaves some teeth sensitive for a day or two.
Book an AppointmentWhat is teeth whitening?
Whitening works on the natural tooth. Peroxide gel passes through the enamel and breaks up the stain molecules underneath, so yellowing from coffee, tea, tobacco, and ordinary aging usually lightens. How much it lifts varies from person to person. We can give you a sense of it after looking at your teeth, but nobody can promise a particular shade in advance.
It will not change anything artificial. Crowns, veneers, bonding, and tooth-colored fillings keep the color they were made in. If you whiten and a front crown starts to stand out, replacing it is the only fix. Gray discoloration from an old injury, a dead nerve, or tetracycline responds slowly, if at all.
What to expect with teeth whitening
Comfort
No needle and no drill. What you will notice is the retractor holding your lips back, and the occasional sharp zing during a gel round.
Time
Set aside about an hour and a half for in-office whitening. Trays take two short visits, one to scan and one to pick them up.
After
Sensitivity fades within a day or two. Skip coffee, red wine, and tomato sauce for the first two days, when teeth pick up stain most easily.
Insurance
Whitening is cosmetic. Dental plans do not cover it, PPO plans included. We will tell you the cost before you sit down.
Healthy Smiles Are Possible
Shade and exam
We look for untreated decay, gum recession, and exposed root surfaces first, since gel on any of those stings. Then we record your starting shade against a guide.
Gums protected
You get a cheek retractor and a soft resin barrier painted along the gumline and set with a light. The gel is strong and has to stay off the tissue.
Gel in rounds
Peroxide gel goes on the front teeth for about fifteen minutes, then comes off with suction. That repeats a few times. We check with you between rounds, and we can stop early.
Rinse and recheck
Everything comes off, a fluoride gel goes on to settle the teeth, and we check the shade against the guide again. If you want trays for touch-ups, we scan at this visit.
In-office or take-home trays
In-office whitening happens in one visit. We protect the gums, apply a strong gel in short rounds, and the change is there when you leave. Pick this one if you have a date coming up and no time to work up to it. It also costs more than trays.
Take-home whitening uses custom trays and a milder gel you wear at home over a couple of weeks. It is slower, and it depends on you actually doing it. It is also easier on sensitive teeth, and the trays are yours to keep, so touching up the color later means buying gel and nothing else.
What the sensitivity feels like
Most people get some. It shows up as a short sharp zing in one tooth, a second or two long, usually in the hours right after treatment. It is not damage. The gel opens the microscopic channels in the dentin for a while, and the nerve notices.
For most people it is gone in a day or two. If cold already bothers you, say so before we start. We can put you on a desensitizing toothpaste for a couple of weeks first, keep the gel rounds short, or switch you to trays worn every other night. That conversation is easier before the gel than after it.
Dr. Ion Rotaru, DMD
Dr. Rotaru holds degrees in biomedical sciences and in dental medicine. He is from Moldova and moved to the United States to practice dentistry. His work is general dentistry, which covers most of what a person needs over a lifetime: checkups and cleanings, fillings, crowns, root canals, and the ordinary repairs in between.
He is fluent in English, Romanian, and Russian, and sees patients in all three languages. His approach starts with the person rather than the chart: what is bothering you, what you have been putting off, what you can manage right now. He would rather spend an extra ten minutes explaining than have you agree to something you do not understand.
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What Patients Say
Real stories from real patients who trusted us with their smiles.
Well, let's be honest. I don't know anyone who actually likes having dental work done. But if you are in need I highly recommend Dr Rotaru. He saw me for the first time after my friend and dentist Angel Lopez retired. And it was under an emergency situation. I had cracked a tooth and was in a lot of pain. He saw me on the same day and explained he would be in and out of the room as he worked me in. He is professional but kind. Understanding, respectful and listens. I am very grateful and have found my new Dentist.
Debi R.
Patient
Dr. Ion Rotaru just performed a root canal. He is compassionate, professional, and caring. He explained the entire process as he went along. That brought peace to me. I love he's my new dentist. Thank you Dr Angel Lopez for taking care of your patients until your very last day! You served the Tampa bay community for very long. May you and Betsy enjoy your retirement.
Josie S.
Patient
Dr. Rotaru was very professional and explained the procedure step by step as he was going along. He was attentive in asking if I had any discomfort as the procedure went along. He explained what I would expect and feel after the procedure. Everything went smooth and painless. Thank you so much.
Miguel P.
Patient
The dentist I had been seeing for 20 years retired. Dr Rotaru and staff were excellent and made the transition feel seamless. What a relief! Highly recommend this practice.
Susan B.
Patient
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not the way a filling does. Nothing is cut and there is no needle. What you may feel is short sharp sensitivity in individual teeth, during the appointment and for a day or two after. Cold drinks set it off. It fades on its own.