A dental examination is necessary to help determine if the patient is a good candidate for bleaching and what treatments are best. This examination will include a dental history focusing on the factors that may have caused the stains. The dentist may also photograph the teeth before bleaching to help monitor the treatment’s progress. People with gum disease and worn tooth enamel, and pregnant women are not good candidates.

A dental hygienist will clean the teeth in preparation for the bleaching treatment. Any cavities will usually need to be filled beforehand. If whitening agents penetrate through decayed areas in the tooth, they can damage the tooth nerve.