What to Expect With Quality Teeth Whitening

About 89 percent of Americans agree that a white and bright smile makes a good first impression. Further, about 53 percent of Americans wish they had whiter teeth.

The need for perfect smiles has driven the growth of teeth whitening treatments. In the last five years, this industry has grown by more than 300 percent.

One of the most popular treatments in the market is the professional teeth whitening procedure.

But what can you expect from a quality teeth whitening procedure?

Let’s find out.

Your dentist will first examine your teeth to determine their condition. In case you have cavities or gum disease, your dentist will treat them first. They’ll also polish your teeth with pumice to remove plaque and tartar.

The exam will also help the dentist determine the right shade color of your teeth. With this information, you can choose a whiter shade for the dentist to work with.

Once your dentist determines your eligibility for the procedure, they’ll cover your gums with a rubber shield or gel.

This protective shield protects your gums from the irritation when it gets in contact with the whitening solution. The dentist may also use retractors to protect your tongue, cheeks, and lips.

The dentist will apply the whitening product onto your teeth using a small paintbrush.

The main ingredient in the whitening product is usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.

In some instances, the dentist may use UV light from a laser or a halogen lamp on your teeth to help activate the whitening product.

To enhance the teeth whitening process, the whitening solution will stay on your teeth for 30 to 45 minutes. It may also be reapplied several times until the dentist gets the intended shade.

This whole teeth whitening process takes 60 to 90 minutes.

Once done with the procedure, the dentist will rinse your teeth and remove the rubber dam and reactors.

A look into the mirror will reveal a total transformation. Your teeth will match or be close to your chosen white shade. You’ll see a difference of two to three shades immediately.

The dentist will give you a set of whitening trays to use at home. These will help maintain the whiteness on your teeth in between dental visits.

The trays are custom made by your dentist to perfectly fit your teeth. The dentist will also give you a hydrogen peroxide gel to use together with the trays.

You’ll then syringe a little gel on each tooth impression in the tray. Before slipping your tray, dry your teeth with a paper towel for best results.

Keep the trays on as recommended by your dentist and repeat the routine as advised.

Note that if the take-home teeth whitening products are overused, they can cause severe sensitivity, irritation, and damage to your teeth and enamel.

In addition, avoid eating or drinking anything that can stain your teeth after the procedure. This includes tea, coffee, tomato juice, red wine, candies, grapes, mustard, among others.

Even way after your procedure, try to minimize your contact with teeth staining food and drinks. If you must eat or drink them, drink plenty of water in between sips or after eating the foods. Brushing your teeth afterward is also recommended.

You can also invest in reusable straws and use them while drinking tea, coffee, or red wine. Further, you’ll have to stop smoking to maintain the right white shade of your teeth.

Some of the benefits of visiting your dentist for teeth whitening include:

1. Fast Results

Professional in-house teeth whitening involves the use of power bleaching. This is simply the use of a highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide bleach solution.

Additionally, laser light enhances the bleaching process. As a result, there’s a quick removal of stains and enhanced whitening.

2. Professional Care

An in-house teeth whitening procedure will allow you to get helpful dental advice from your dentist. And, in case something goes wrong, the dentist will notice and correct it as soon as possible during one of your visits.

3. Removal of Surface and Ingrained Stains

Common whitening products only get rid of the surface stains.

However, professional teeth whitening procedures remove both the surface and the ingrained stains. This gives you a fresher and whiter smile.

Moreover, the dentist uses a combination of the in-office teeth whitening and the custom-fitting tray method to give you quick results.

Professional teeth whitening procedures have many benefits. The only downside that comes with this method is the risk of increased sensitivity.

The strong hydrogen peroxide solution may weaken the enamel to increase teeth sensitivity.

For the first 24 hours, avoid eating/drinking hot and cold foods and drinks. Further, you might want to use a toothbrush with extra soft bristles. In case the teeth sensitivity doesn’t go away after a few days, see your dentist.

The teeth whitening procedure is perfect for people with stained or discolored teeth.

If your gums have pulled away from your teeth, whitening may cause severe irritation. It’s recommended to receive treatment for gum disease or cavities before proceeding with the whitening.

An in-house teeth whitening procedure is possible for people with restorative dental work such as fillings, braces, or crowns. However, the color of these dental works may not change after the process. Thus, you may need to replace them if they don’t match the color of your whitened teeth.

The in-office professional teeth whitening procedure offers superior results in a short period of time.

If you’re in search of quality teeth whitening, consider the Garland K. Davis Family Dentistry.

We’re located in Laurel, Maryland and treat all our patients like family. To restore your beautiful smile with the help of our in-house teeth whitening procedure, contact us today.