The vast majority of people are suitable for teeth whitening. However, in order to minimize the risk of encountering the previously discussed side effects there are a few conditions that may deem you unsuitable for teeth whitening.

Any condition that predisposes you to tooth sensitivity including

• Exposed dentine at the neck of the tooth due to overbrushing. Dentine may also be exposed due to excessive consumption of carbonated drinks (Before you grab that cold can of fizz…. Did you know that if you placed a tooth into a can of carbonated drink, it will dissolve completely over the course of 12 hours! )
• Receding gums, or active gum disease
• Pts younger than 16 years of age. Young patients have larger and more active pulpal tissue (the nerves and blood vessels in the tooth)

While mild fluorosis isn’t a big deal, the more severe forms, which include brown spots to the dark brown patches, would require a different kind of treatment. (If you went ahead, you wouldn’t see any severe side effects. On the contrary, you’d just be disappointed because there would not be any noticeable results)

If you have a very long bridge or almost all your teeth are crowned, tooth whitening is not for you. As previously mentioned in the section on side effects, porcelain work and fillings don’t whiten, period. If you do fall in this category and you crave a brighter smile, replacement of the crowns/bridges/fillings is the only way to go