Teenager Wants His Teeth Whitened?

Teeth whitening is proven to be a safe procedure even for teenagers.  It must be said that the younger that you are the more sensitivity that you will have for 24 hours following the procedure.  The patient will get better results by using the bleaching trays given for a couple of days following the Zoom procedure.  Good luck. 

Hello, and thanks for your question!  There are many at-home whitening options available which are safe for teenagers--many offices make customized whitening trays which patients use at home with varying strengths of whitening bleach.  Although that is a great investment and the trays can be used repeatedly, many parents opt for disposable trays that can be used at home.  They are still professional strength (and are typically only available through dental professionals), but often one or two packages of these trays can help the patient acheive their ideal shade.  And, they're ideal for busy teens as the wear time is minimal (approx 30 mins), they don't have to worry about dispensing bleach, they're disposable, and patients typically experience little sensitivity with these.  Good luck!

There is no such thing as "necessity" when it comes to whitening, it is all a matter of preference.  "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," and all that....

 

There really is no way to damage teeth at any age via whitening.  Normally, the younger the patient, the greater the sensitivity (100% temporary and reversible), so most kids quit trying pretty quickly.  My daughters started with the strips at age 12, but gave up within a few days due to the laziness of their age.  One zoomed after her braces came off at age 14.

 

The real decision is if it is worth the cost, but there is no risk of damage.