Everyone wants a nice smile, and teeth whitening has become a hot topic for enhancing the radiance of your smile. After all necessary restorative dental procedures have been completed, teeth whitening is a great cosmetic procedure that can take your smile to the next level.
What Is Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening is the process of improving the appearance of teeth by removing surface stains. Specialized dental bleaching solutions break stains into smaller pieces, which in turn lightens the color and improves the overall appearance of teeth.
While some patients may wish to restore the natural color of their teeth, other patients may be interested in options to improve the appearance of their teeth beyond their natural color.
Teeth whitening is a very popular treatment, as most people agree that a bold, bright, beautiful smile might be their best asset when they interview for a new job or enjoy their memories with loved ones in pictures and videos.
Different Teeth Whitening Treatments
All whitening products contain hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide chemicals that help lighten & improve the appearance of discolored or stained teeth. There are various forms of treatment options like in-office whitening, prescribed at-home bleaching procedures, over-the-counter bleaching kits, and whitening dentifrices. From all these options it might be difficult to decide which treatment option is best for you, so here are some things to keep in mind.
OTC whitening treatments
Over-the-counter (OTC) whitening treatments do not require a prescription from your dentist or local pharmacy. There are different OTC whitening products available in supermarkets, drug stores, and on the internet at different price ranges. These products include but are not limited to rinses, paint-on brushes, chewing gums, and whitening strips. Although OTC whitening treatments help remove superficial stains and can be done at home, user error, confusing instructions, and incorrect solution concentration can give mixed results. Patients who have used OTC whitening methods in the past have experienced:
- white spots
- uneven whitening
- increased sensitivity in their teeth
Why Choose Professional Teeth Whitening?
While mass-produced, at-home kits might be a cheaper option, consider that professional teeth whitening is a safer and more effective investment. Professional teeth whitening at Sedation Dental Care creates more effective results in a shorter amount of time. Dr. Davidian or a trained teeth whitening specialist will administer a treatment tailored to your sensitivity level without exposing you to the highly-acidic over-the-counter options.
Professional treatment also means stronger whitening solutions, skilled positioning & application, and a safe & comfortable office for treatment.
What to expect?
The Sedation Dental Care Smile Center offers personalized and safe teeth whitening treatments that are tailored to your cosmetic goals. The teeth whitening system usually requires two dental visits. During the first dental visit, the team will take a dental teeth impression in order to create custom whitening trays.
During your second visit, the whitener will be placed in these trays to safely whiten your teeth. The trays will generally remain in place over your teeth for about an hour so that the whitener can be absorbed properly into the teeth. The result will be a smile that is 5-10 shades lighter. Our team will also provide you with post-treatment instructions to ensure that you keep your new whiter smile.
Consulting with a dental professional is the best way to obtain the healthiest smile without hurting or damaging your teeth. The misuse of OTC whitening products can cause irreversible damage that can be difficult to restore or treat. It is also extremely important to remember that even if you use a teeth whitening product at home, good oral hygiene is the best way to keep your teeth strong and healthy.