What does Professional Teeth Whitening Entail

Do you want a brighter smile? Dental whitening is one of the options that cosmetic dentists use to give you a bright and aesthetic smile. When whitening your teeth, you can choose between in-office or home-based whitening. However, both options use peroxide-based bleaches. In-office based systems contain higher concentrations of peroxide than home-based systems.

Also, our dentist recommends a home-based or in-office system depending on the condition of your teeth. For severely discolored or stained, the dentist will recommend in-office treatments. For mild staining and discoloration, the dentist might recommend home-based whitening.

What to Expect During an In-Office Whitening

The in-office whitening procedure is not a complicated process. However, the procedure requires skills to avoid complications and for satisfactory results. The dentist can either use only bleaching agents or use them together with laser technologies such as Zoom whitening.

A teeth whitening procedure in Delta, BC, takes between 60 to 90 minutes. When performing a dental whitening procedure at Precision Dentistry, the dentist goes through a series of steps.

First, the dentist might take impressions of your teeth and record the current shade of the teeth. Before proceeding, the dentist might recommend professional cleaning by an oral hygienist. The dental cleanings aim to eliminate any plaque on the surfaces of your teeth.

The dentist will then use refractors to isolate your lips, cheeks, and tongue from the bleaching agents. Our dentist might also use gauze to keep your teeth dry. The dentist will then place a barrier between your gums and teeth to prevent the effects of peroxide on the gums.

Next, our dentist will coat your teeth’ front surfaces using a white solution. The white solution can either be carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. To activate the peroxide, the dentist might use Zoom laser or curing light. The Zoom laser helps peroxide-based bleach penetrate the enamel and eliminatethe effects of discoloration.

The dentist leaves the solution on the surfaces of your teeth for 30 to 60 minutes and then reapplies it until you achieve optimum whitening. Once your teeth reach the optimum shade, the dentist will rinse them and apply fluoride to ease tooth sensitivity. However, for the desired results, our dentist will recommend more than one appointment.

Home-Based Whitening

Once you decide to whiten your teeth at home, our dentist in Delta, BC, might recommend any of the following options:

Whitening Gels and Strips

If you are using whitening gels, the dentist or manufacturer recommends you apply the gel using a small toothbrush. For strips, you will attach them to your teeth directly. For desired results, you will have to apply these bleaching products twice daily for two weeks. The effects of the bleaching products might last up to 4 or more months.

Whitening Toothpaste

Whitening kinds of toothpaste are mildly abrasive but help in eliminating stains. However, some of the toothpaste contains polishing agents that eliminate stains without the help of bleaching agents. Some toothpaste contains peroxides and bleaches your teeth into one shade. However, the effects of the toothpaste are not long-lasting.

Tray-Based Whitening

This dental whitening option uses mouthguard-like trays filled with bleaching agents.  You are then supposed to put on the trays for some hours daily up to 4 weeks. The dentist can custom-fit the tray or recommend you to buy them over the counter.

Benefits of Whitening Your Teeth

With dental whitening, the natural color of your teeth is restored, giving you a beautiful smile. Also, with a beautiful smile, you will be more self-confident.  The other benefits of dental whitening include:

• Boosts your self-esteem
• Aids the killing of bacteria that might cause tooth decay or lead to other oral health problems

Keeping Your Teeth White

If you want the effects to last after a dental whitening procedure, you should practice the following:

• Your teeth should be brushed twice daily using fluoride toothpaste
• Your teeth should be flossed at least once a day to prevent the accumulation of plaque
• Visit an oral hygienist regularly for professional dental cleanings
• Quit smoking
• Avoid or minimize the consumption of colored food and drinks