Are Children Having Teeth Whitening Done?

With the increased popularity of teeth whitening over the past five years, the procedure is commonly being requested by the parents of children as young as eight years old.  What are the most frequently asked questions when requesting this procedure on children?

Q: What age is safe to begin the bleaching process in children?

A:  Bleaching is completely safe and there is no harmful damage to the enamel.  In my practice, I like to wait until the child has all of their permanent teeth erupted before whitening.  Typically, all of these have erupted by 11 or 12 years of age.  That being said, I would have no problem whitening the teeth of a child as young as eight years old if they were self conscience due to the comments of other kids at school about the color of their teeth.  

Q:  Can I use over -the -counter products to whiten my child's teeth?

A:   Teeth whitening should always be performed by a dentist whether it is "laser whitening" or the use of bleaching trays.  These procedures are technique sensitive and when not performed correctly can cause irritation of the gums that can be quite painful. 

Q:  Will the teeth be sensitive after whitening?



A:  Most of the time the patient will have sensitivity when doing ”laser whitening" for 8-10 hours following the procedure.  There is not as much sensitivity when using bleaching trays alone, but the results are not as drastic. The underlying nerves in the teeth of children are larger than adults.  This can cause increased teeth sensitivity in children for the first 24 hours following the procedure.    

 Q:  How much does teeth whitening cost and how long does it take?

A:  Zoom laser whitening or other similar products range from $400-800 depending on where you live and whether or not bleaching trays are included with the fee.  The procedure takes approximately two hours in the office.  Following this, the patient will be asked to use the trays for several nights for about an hour each time. 

The safety of bleaching in children has been proven to be safe and the results for some children can be life changing.  If you are wondering whether your child is a candidate for the procedure contact your dentist and ask for a consultation.  They will give you an honest answer that will allow you to make the best decision for your child.  Hope this helps!

 

You will probably find major differences of opinion when it comes to teeth whitening for children.  Thousands of whitening studies have been performed over the last couple of decades.  These studies have one conclusion in common.  Professional whitening (when performed using ADA/FDA-approved professional systems under the supervision of a dentist -- and using the system just as directed) will not damage healthy permanent teeth.  This means that children (who have their permanent teeth) CAN safely whiten their teeth.  The clinical answer is just that simple.
However, this topic certainly opens the floor for discussion regarding the social, psychological, and emotional aspects of the subject of teeth whitening in children.  From one standpoint, why should a 12 year-old child be thinking about cosmetic enhancements at such a young age?  On the other hand, will the child with dark yellow teeth be teased ("butter teeth, dirty teeth”) to the point that the child learns to stop smiling, laughing -- or starts covering his or her mouth with every laugh?  What about the child who has average teeth, but whose mom thinks the teeth need to be whiter?  Many times, parents get nervous when the first permanent teeth start to grow in because they are so much darker in color than the baby teeth.  (Remember, we used to call baby teeth "milk teeth" because they are so very white in color.  So, when the permanent teeth start growing in amidst the milk teeth, they will look much darker in contrast.)   There are so many different situations within this topic, that I believe it's impossible (and irresponsible) to have one answer across the board.
When I have a young patient (under 17 years-old) who wants whiter teeth, I first talk with the child and his or her mom or dad.  We discuss the "whys" behind the desire to whiten the teeth.  If is a situation like the aforementioned one (permanent teeth look dark growing in next to baby teeth), then we opt to wait until all of the permanent teeth are in and revisit the topic if needed in the future.  If it's a kid who is handicapped by the appearance of his or her smile, then yes, I absolutely agree with whitening teeth to improve confidence (we've been straightening teeth with braces for this reason for decades).  If I'm dealing with an over-obsessive parent, I try to find out if whitening is something the child really wants.  If it's not something the child wants, I tell them to wait until they really want to whiten. 
When we decide it's in the best interest of the child to do some whitening, then we customize the treatment based on the different needs of each patient (just like we do in adults).  The safe professional methods available are the same as those available to adults (custom trays, professional strips, and in-office whitening).
When it comes to teeth whitening in children, the clinical methods are no different than they are in adults.  However, before agreeing to do the procedure, it is important to take the time in consultation to address the "whys" behind the treatment.

Teeth whitening has come a long way over more than twenty years. Initially we were concerned that the chemicals used to whiten teeth would cause some sort of permanent damage to teeth. Nothing is farther from the truth. Many people have whitened their teeth without serious concerns, in fact teeth whitening has become one of the most popular cosmetic trends (as demonstrated in all of the Over-The-Counter teeth whitening products and myriad toothpaste formulations).

Doing cosmetic dentistry for children always strikes some controversy. In my opinion, that's more voodoo than science. In general children CAN have teeth whitening at an early age. In my opinion a child COULD have teeth whitening done even at age 11, depending upon how their teeth are growing in. As with any kids that age, the cooperation needed to actually complete the whitening depends a lot on the individual child and the overall supervision of the parents.

Candidly, I do not get many requests for teeth whitening for young kids. Rather, mostly for young adults who often want to whiten after they finish their braces or teeth straightening. 

For young children the main aesthetic treatments typically are bonding to fix chips in front teeth, or to close up unattractive spaces.

In terms of techniques, there are two that can be useful: one, professional tray whitening done at home, and two, in-office professional whitening. Either technique depends a lot on the child's maturity to help out with the process.

In summary, I do not see a strong trend for child teeth whitening. I believe it CAN be done safely for even young children (say 10-12 years old). There are at least two different techniques that can produce the results. In some cases, a child could have it done at even a younger age, to just treat the front part of their smile.

I have worked with the media before and would be able to provide you with a very strong interview if you need more information.