Bleaching Tray

A bleaching tray (also called a whitening tray) is a thin, custom-fitted plastic appliance designed to hold professional-grade whitening gel against the teeth for controlled at-home bleaching treatments.

How Bleaching Trays Work

The tray acts as a reservoir for the whitening gel (typically carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide). The custom fit ensures:

• Even gel distribution — The gel contacts all tooth surfaces uniformly, preventing blotchy or uneven whitening
• Gel containment — The tray keeps the gel in contact with the teeth rather than leaking onto the gums, which can cause tissue irritation
• Controlled dosing — The precise fit means less gel is needed per session, making the whitening gel supply last longer

Patients typically wear bleaching trays for 30 minutes to several hours per session, depending on the concentration of the whitening gel prescribed.

Custom vs. Generic Bleaching Trays

Custom Lab-Fabricated Trays

Made from an accurate impression of the patient’s teeth, custom trays offer:

• Precise adaptation — The tray fits intimately against the teeth with scalloped edges that follow the gum line
• Reservoirs — The lab can add small reservoirs (spacers) on the facial surfaces of the teeth to hold a specific volume of gel, ensuring consistent bleaching
• Comfort — A well-fitting tray is comfortable enough to wear during sleep if the treatment protocol calls for overnight wear
• Longevity — Custom trays can be reused for years for periodic touch-up whitening

Over-the-Counter Trays

Generic boil-and-bite or one-size-fits-all trays are available at a lower cost but have significant limitations: poor fit leading to gel leakage, gingival irritation from excess gel contact, uneven whitening results, and discomfort that reduces patient compliance.

Lab Fabrication

When ordering bleaching trays from your dental lab, provide:

• Upper and/or lower impressions — Alginate or PVS impressions of the arches to be bleached
• Reservoir specification — Whether to include reservoirs on the facial surfaces (most protocols recommend them)
• Tray design — Scalloped (following the gum line) is standard for most bleaching protocols
• Material thickness — Typically 1mm soft EVA material

The lab fabricates the trays by vacuum-forming or pressure-forming a thin plastic sheet over stone models of the patient’s teeth, then trimming and finishing the tray to the prescribed design.

Patient Instructions

Patients receiving custom bleaching trays should be instructed to:

• Apply a small amount of gel (about a teardrop per tooth) into the reservoir areas
• Seat the tray fully and wipe away any excess gel that squeezes onto the gums
• Follow the prescribed wear schedule and duration
• Clean the tray with a soft toothbrush and cool water after each use
• Store the tray in its case when not in use