What can your dentist do to whiten your teeth?
If you’re looking to teeth whitening dentist , you’ve come to the right place! At my practice, I offer both in-office whitening procedures and over-the-counter whitening solutions to help you achieve that pearly white smile you’ve always wanted.
Of course, in order to take advantage of these options, we first need to understand how teeth whitening works in the first place. Fortunately, my extensive knowledge as a dentist can help you learn all about this topic so that you can go about obtaining the perfect smile for your face shape and personality type as soon as possible!
Laser teeth whitening
It’s a popular option among today’s dentists. In fact, approximately 50 percent of all dentists use lasers in their offices to brighten smiles. The reason they use lasers is because they offer fast and effective results with minimal pain and risk.
Dentists also have many other options when it comes to getting that dazzling, white smile you’ve always wanted. Take a look at our tips below for even more information about how your dentist can help you achieve that beautiful smile. Call or visit your favorite dentist today to learn more. Laser Teeth Whitening:
Often one of the most popular methods of teeth whitening dentist, laser teeth whitening uses light energy to remove surface stains on your teeth caused by coffee, red wine or other foods. Power Toothbrushes: A power toothbrush helps reduce plaque build-up and removes surface stains faster than standard brushes over time.
Teeth-Whitening Trays: Dentists provide these trays, which contain peroxide-based bleaching gels that are applied directly to patient’s teeth so they will be activated by oxygen and work quickly to gently lighten teeth over time. At-Home Bleaching Kits: Dental hygienists suggest purchasing an at-home kit instead of visiting your dentist for expensive procedures each time you want whiter teeth.
These kits cost less money and can still give significant results if used correctly—just ask your teeth whitening dentist what brand she recommends before purchasing. If done correctly, at home bleaching kits will produce satisfying results. Whiter Smile Brushing Accessories: These accessories protect your sensitive teeth while helping them become whiter as well!
In-office bleaching
If you’re in need of serious whitening, in-office bleaching is a great option. In-office bleaching is effective for anyone with darker stains (deep yellowing, for example) that don’t respond well to home treatments. Your teeth whitening dentist office will take impressions of your mouth and send them off to be made into custom trays.
These trays are used with a bleaching gel or a peroxide solution and are worn overnight at home over several weeks—the longer you wear them, the better! At first, you might notice some minor gum sensitivity as your teeth lighten but it will go away quickly if you use non-whitening toothpaste while wearing these trays. As long as you care for your teeth properly, they won’t experience any damage from bleaching gels.
Generally speaking, in-office bleaching takes about 2–3 visits to see significant results; once finished, most people say their teeth look between 5–7 shades lighter! This approach is best for patients who want to get their smile super white fast. And remember: Results vary from person to person depending on how stained your teeth are before treatment begins.
Also keep in mind that there’s always a chance of tooth sensitivity post-bleaching so we suggest taking ibuprofen after bleaching treatments. That said, if you want whiter teeth right now and aren’t too worried about noticeable results immediately, try Crest 3D White strips—you can definitely expect brighter smiles within days when using these strips regularly! Keep in mind:
It isn’t possible to lighten already formed adult dentin (your dentist gray color), so you’ll only see benefits on existing enamel pigment. Adult dentin cannot revert back to its original color once stained.
Custom trays at home
A few years ago, it wasn’t uncommon for a patient to be fitted with a full-set of custom trays and sent home on their own with instructions that included things like don’t eat or drink for three hours before bedtime, don’t sleep in your trays, ever! and toothpaste does not count as flossing. With advancements in technology,
We now have both in-office and at-home options for whitening which makes our lives easier (and happier!) for patients. It is my professional opinion that you should always start with an at-home option before considering an in-office treatment . Let me explain… An at-home whitening system such as take-home whitening trays along with follow up treatments from us every 2 weeks can give you great results over a period of two months.
This isn’t something that happens overnight. We are committed to seeing each patient through their process from start to finish by checking how well they’re doing and giving them additional applications if needed until they reach their desired shade. After about 2 months, there’s very little more we can do for them without investing more time into appointments than what I think most people are willing to invest (with work & family demands being so high these days).
This takes me back to my original point: why spend thousands of dollars. On in office treatments if they aren’t going to get you where you want to go any faster? In-office whitening generally costs $1000-$4000 depending on how aggressive you would like to get with it. The other factor here is insurance: Most insurances will only cover certain procedures. When done in an office setting and won’t cover anything related to at-home services or products.
Does that mean that insurance companies don’t want us using better technologies because they’ll save money? No – but they also know their numbers; while we may see an increase in patients coming out of pocket for these services. Keep in mind that insurance premiums also go up too.
Daily care and maintenance
First, when you’re at home and not sitting in a dentist chair. It’s important to brush twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride helps keep your enamel strong. Make sure you don’t just brush in small circles; instead, try angling your brush at a 45-degree angle. Toward those hard-to-reach molars and back teeth for an extra 5 seconds or so.
Then rinse thoroughly with water. Additionally, some dentists recommend using a powered tongue scraper every day or two—this removes bacteria from between your teeth, which is key for oral health. And lastly, use sugarless gum to stimulate saliva flow. Saliva helps wash away food particles and neutralize acids that eat away at your teeth.