You brush your teeth twice a day, floss regularly, use oral rinses, and keep your regular dental appointments, but your teeth are not as white as you would like them to be. Even though your good oral hygiene habits are a great start to preventing more staining of your teeth, there are additional steps you can take to whiten your smile. Consuming dark and acidic foods and drinks can add to surface stains on your teeth but there are other types of staining that can affect your smile’s appearance.
Professional Whitening Procedures
If you are looking for a whitening treatment that will change your smile in one office visit, you can opt for in office whitening. The dentist will apply a whitening gel to your teeth with extra care as this gel is very strong. You will leave the office with whiter teeth than the ones you arrived with.
If you prefer to have the dentist supply a strong whitening gel for you to use at home, the dentist can send you home with a custom tray and a slightly milder whitening gel. This treatment will stronger than the ones you can buy over the counter at a pharmacy or store.
What makes Professional Whitening Different?
According to the American Dental Association, the different whitening options available by prescription and over the counter all contain peroxide components at differing strengths. Professional whitening costs more due to the exact combination of active ingredients that cause the gel to whiten your teeth.
First, professional whitening is more expensive because of the professional oversight of the dentist on your treatment. The dentist will examine your teeth to determine the source of the staining and the best way to address it. In order to start professional whitening, the dentist will need to make sure that your teeth and gums are healthy enough for the treatment. The whitening compounds will not be able to address the color of crowns or veneers.
Second, the professional in office whitening procedures are completed by professionals because the concentration of the whitening agents is so high. There is an extreme importance on expertly applying the gel only to the teeth and protecting the gums from exposure. The dentist may even take care to apply a protective gel to the gums and other surrounding soft tissue to prevent the whitening gel from harming your mouth.
Finally, when you have the dentist complete the whitening treatment professionally, you can count on fast results from the treatment. The whitening agents in the gel are stronger than the ones you can buy yourself so you will be able to see the difference by the time you leave the office instead of weeks later.
Who is Professional Whitening for?
Professional teeth whitening is for anyone with their permanent, natural teeth and overall good oral health. The dentist will be able to determine if your gums are healthy enough; when your gums are sensitive or receding, the chemicals in the whitening agent may cause more sensitivity. If your teeth have yellowed and those stains are not lifted with the whitening treatments you have tried at home, then professional whitening will help. If your teeth stains are more brown or gray, then the dentist may need to address your tooth color with a different treatment.