Some people say that your smile is what makes your first impression. Who doesn’t want to make a good first impression? Having a confident, bright, white smile can help leave a positive lasting impression among so many other things. Guillot Family Dentistry’s cosmetic dentistry teeth whitening services can help with that among many other things.
Teeth whitening doesn’t have to be complicated or messy. Professional teeth whitening (or bleaching) is a simple, non-invasive cosmetic dental treatment used to change the color of natural tooth enamel and is an ideal way to enhance the beauty of your smile.
What Does Professional Teeth Whitening Involve?
Although the professional teeth whitening process is not a complex one, it will require a minimum of two appointments. At the first appointment, molds are made of your teeth and created into custom, clear, plastic trays. Once the treys have been created, you will come back for a second appointment for a fitting. At this appointment, any adjustments will be made as necessary. The next phase are as effective as your level of involvement! Your home instructions are to wear the treys with a provided special whitening solution either overnight for an extended period of time recommended by your dentist or twice a day for 30 minutes a day. The recommendations by your dentist will be dependent upon the degree of staining and desired level of whitening. While you may experience minimal teeth sensitivity throughout this process, it is only temporary and will subside shortly after the bleaching process is completed.
Home Whitening Kit Safety Precautions:
While we don’t recommend using at home kits, if that is the route you choose to go, get a professional cleaning and dental exam first. You might only need a thorough cleaning to restore your smile’s sparkle. If you do decide to utilize home whitening kits that are over the counter, please be cautious of the ingredients, instructions, and follow up recommendations to avoid damaging your teeth.
- At-home whiteners have peroxides, typically carbamide peroxide, in amounts ranging from 10% to 20%.
- Don’t leave the strips or gels on longer than advised — you might wind up with sore gums and set yourself up for other problems.
- After you whiten, avoid soda, sports drinks, or other acidic beverages for a couple of hours to protect your teeth.
- To be on the safe side, pregnant women or nursing mothers should postpone teeth whitening.
- Porcelain or composite dental crowns and bonding won’t lighten up. So, if you change the color of the teeth around them, you might wind up with an uneven smile or need to replace old fillings and crowns.
Home Kits vs. Professional Teeth Whitening:
For the safest and most effective at home teeth whitening method, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) recommends using a custom fitted tray with professional solution provided by your dentist. This is the method described in the first section of this article. Ill-fitting teeth whitening trays can cause the gel to ooze out and irritate your gums along with risk of causing other issues.
Over the counter treatments are indeed less expensive, but they also typically require longer treatment periods and risk gum irritation or damage to previous dental work are increased. Not only are professional teeth whitening kits more effective, but results from a dentist-supervised whitening procedure can last anywhere from one to five years depending on your eating, drinking, and other teeth staining related habits.
Reasons to Choose Professional In-Office Teeth Whitening Services:
While both methods may get the job done, there are some notable differences to take into consideration when deciding if a professional or over the counter teeth whitening method is best for you. Professional teeth whitening lasts longer, is customized to match your mouth shape and can save you money in the long run. While it may be more convenient for you to use at-home teeth whitening products, most people notice that the whitening benefits wear off after only a few short weeks. Long term results would require multiple treatments, which will not only increase costs over the long run but increase damage risks to your teeth and overall oral health. When a professional completes the treatment, you can rest assured to know that the best practices are being used and you can expect optimal results without sacrificing your comfort or dental health.
If you are looking for a more immediate result, in office teeth whitening options are available and may be a better solution for you. These treatments offer same day results and the services are customized to match your specific needs. It is possible to enjoy teeth that are 5 to 8 shades whiter from an in-office treatment depending on the whitening technology that is used. If you are interested in professional at home kits or in office whitening treatments, do not hesitate to give Guilliot Family Dentistry a call with any questions.
Recent Comments