What to Expect with Professional Teeth Whitening
Over time, our teeth can become a little dull from eating and drinking. There are a number of options when it comes to brightening your smile, and you can either do them at home or have professional treatments done at your dental office. If you’re thinking about going to your dentist for a professional teeth whitening session here’s what you can expect.
Cost
When it comes to at-home vs. professional whitening options, there will be a noticeable difference in what you’re paying. At first glance, home whitening kits may seem more budget friendly, but over time this may not be the case. Dentists use a high-grade whitening solution that is meant to be more effective on the teeth. Home kits can sometimes require multiple applications and repeated touch ups that may end up amounting to more whitening sessions in the long run.
Time
Depending on the current shade of your teeth and how white you want them to be, you may need more than one whitening treatment session. Each session with the dentist is usually about 45 minutes and can easily be done at your convenience throughout the day.
Pre-Whitening
Before you come to the office for whitening treatment, you may wish to have a good cleaning so that any plaque and build up is removed before applying the whitening solution. This will provide the best results. You may also have a checkup from the dentist to make sure there aren’t any cavities or cracks in your teeth that could cause sensitivity during the whitening process. Once the dentist has determined your teeth are ready for whitening, they will start the process.
Whitening
Your dentist will use cheek retractors to expose your teeth so they have easy access to all your teeth for whitening. Next, they will apply a barrier to your gums to protect them from the whitening solution. Once the teeth have been prepared, the dentist will apply the whitening gel and let it work on the teeth for 20 minutes. Sometimes, in certain cases, a light may be used to intensify the results of the whitening. Once the specified amount of time has passed, the protective barrier will be removed and you will be able to see results right away.
Caring for Your Teeth
It is important to care for your teeth properly if you wish to keep them as white as possible. This means regular brushing, limiting smoking, coffee or wine. If these are things you regularly enjoy, you may wish to touch up your teeth more often to maintain a whiter shade.
Whitening your teeth professionally can give you long-term results in as little as one session. You can brighten your smile immediately, especially if you have a big event coming up and want to look your best!
Contact us today for more information or to book an appointment with one of our dentists.