What To Expect From an In Office Dental Teeth Whitening Visit

Teeth whitening is an effective and virtually pain-free way to achieve a brighter and more attractive smile. Because there are multiple techniques for whitening teeth, your dentist may provide you with different options. Ultimately, having your teeth whitened by professionals provides the optimal results.

Understand the professional whitening process

In-office whitening involves placing peroxide gel in a mouth tray that the client  wears for about an hour. Typically, the gel is replaced every 15 minutes during the course of the hour. Some dentists also use a specially designed laser that can intensify the effects of the peroxide.

As an alternative, many dentists can create a customized take-home tray and provide a tube of gel so that clients can apply the whitener at their convenience. For seriously stained teeth, dentists might combine the two approaches — the client may receive an in-office treatment for an hour or longer, and then be given a take-home kit so that the application can be administered a second time at home.

Are there any side effects to professional whitening?

Although the whitening procedure is pain-free, some people may experience an increase in tooth sensitivity. Although this tenderness can be uncomfortable, it is usually temporary. Most dentists will offer numbing agents to decrease any uncomfortable sensation, so it is important for clients to let their dental professional known when they are experiencing increased sensitivity.

Do all teeth stains respond to whiteners?

Teeth whitening gels tend to provide excellent results for yellowed teeth. However, teeth that are discolored to the point of being grey or brown usually do not respond to peroxide treatments. Dentists will let clients know whether a professional treatment will be effective for their particular stains.

All whiteners are not created equal

Teeth stains can result from a variety of substances, including red wine, caramel-colored soft drinks, tea and coffee, tobacco, and even chocolate. After decades of contact with one or more of these substances, the teeth begin to yellow — sometimes mildly, sometimes dramatically. Some medications, including blood pressure and antihistamine prescriptions, can also cause yellowing. Children who have been given the antibiotics tetracycline or doxycycline often experience lasting teeth stains as well.

There are basically two ways to whiten yellow, stained teeth:

• Professional whitening by a dentist or hygienist
• Using a store-bought whitening kit

Both store-bought whiteners and professional whitening techniques use either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide to remove stains. But the level of whitening can be drastically different for these two approaches. As most dentists will tell you, teeth whitening kits available at grocery stores and drug stores are much weaker in strength than teeth whiteners used in dental offices. The major reason for this difference is that the Food and Drug Administration will not allow the sale of a full-strength teeth whitener unless it is administered by a trained professional. For the best results, therefore, you will want to have your teeth whitened by a dentist or dental hygienist.

Conclusion

Dental professionals can usually remove decades of yellow teeth stains with a quick and painless teeth whitening procedure in the office or as a take-home kit. Store-bought whiteners may have a limited effect on stained teeth, but ultimately cannot compare with professional methods.

Are you considering teeth whitening in the Coral Gables area? Get more information at https://www.gablesexceptionaldentistry.com.

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