Professional teeth whitening is one of the top dental services requested at dentist offices in Greater Houston because one of the first things people notice about you is your smile. But some may wonder why they should have teeth whitening done professionally when they can do it themselves with over-the-counter products? The answers may surprise you and have you rethinking why you would settle for anything less.
Who Is a Candidate for Professional Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening is an ideal option for people who have mostly healthy teeth that have become stained from drinking dark liquids and smoking.
However, not everyone is a good candidate for professional teeth whitening. For example, individuals who have the following conditions may not be eligible:
- Immense plaque and tartar buildup
- Cavities in teeth they want whitened
- Certain dental implements such as bonding or porcelain teeth
- Overexposure of fluoride
- A darkening of the dentin, or inner layer of the tooth
While getting a thorough teeth cleaning and fillings at the dentist’s office may help patients become eligible for teeth whitening, the remaining conditions generally exclude patients from getting the procedure done.
Patients with veneers will find that they cannot be whitened but can instead be replaced or professionally cleaned by a dentist.
How Professional Teeth Whitening Works
At its most basic level, cosmetic teeth whitening generally utilizes carbamide or hydrogen peroxide to make a person’s teeth look whiter and brighter. In some cases, it may be a specific tooth or teeth that need to be whitened because the enamel appears stained. In this situation, a licensed dentist can customize the whitening solution dosage and timing to ensure that the tooth or teeth in question will eventually match the same shade of whiteness and brightness as the adjacent teeth.
This treatment may take the form of boost whitening. The process can take up to an hour and a half and includes applying chemically activated whitening gel to a patient’s teeth. This may be just one step of the process as the patient may also be sent home with bleaching trays that are to be used for maintenance.
Another method of teeth whitening dentists use is custom take-home trays that are designed to fit a patient’s bite. This is done through an impression of the teeth which will create the tailored form of the trays. Because take home trays are used at home and without the professional guidance of a licensed dentist, the brightening solution is generally a less concentrated carbamide peroxide or a lower concentration or hydrogen peroxide, which is thought to cause less irritation should it make contact with the gums or other oral tissues.
It is important to note that the dental procedure of teeth whitening should be initiated in the dentist’s office and does require making an appointment. Whether a patient is undergoing an in-office teeth whitening or is getting fitted for take home bleach trays, it all begins with expert dental professionals that work to customize the experience and results for each patient. The cost of the procedure will heavily depend on the method of whitening the dentist and patient choose as well as how many applications it will take to reach the desired effect.
The number of times a patient needs to do a boost whitening or use professional dental grade bleaching trays depends heavily on the desired outcome. Most patients can expect to repeat the procedure anywhere from up to 2-3 times initially and the results are not permanent.
People who have their teeth whitened but frequently consume drinks and foods that are widely accepted to contribute to staining and discoloration of teeth may find they need a refresh from time to time. That requires the patient to return for a maintenance visit to restore brightness to their teeth.
Individuals who have their teeth whitened should care for them properly via good hygiene to make the results of their treatment last longer. This includes brushing the teeth in both the morning and evening, flossing regularly, and seeing a dentist every six months for a checkup and dental cleaning.
Benefits of Professional Teeth Whitening Compared to Other Methods
While it is obvious that customization is one of the biggest advantages to having professional teeth whitening done, there are numerous additional benefits.
Because professional teeth whitening is designed to have some oversight by licensed dentists, it may be safer and more effective than other methods that rely on one size fits all processes and the user’s ability to follow instructions. Misreading the directions on a boxed whitening kit or leaving a solution on the teeth too long may create an issue in the final result.
Professional peroxide-based solutions are especially tailored to work with the teeth to make them appear brighter. While many assume that over the counter products use the same ingredients and dosages, that is not factual. For example, whitening toothpastes typically use an abrasive substance that can remove stains but may also increase a patient’s tooth sensitivity to the temperature of food and drinks they consume. Over the counter teeth whitening kits or strips are also not offered at the same high dosage used in a professional whitening process at a dentist’s office.
Bleaching trays from the dentist’s office are custom fit to match the same form and bite that the patient has. These trays are made from an impression of the teeth to ensure that the tray can evenly distribute the bleaching agent to the teeth. Those sold in a ready-made box are not customized and therefore may not match up with a person’s bite. This could cause uneven distribution of the whitening agent or even the absence of it in some hard-to-reach places. As such, there is really no substitute for professional teeth whitening when you want the best results.
If you are considering professional teeth whitening in Houston, be sure to schedule an appointment with Dr. Dorothy Paul and let her help you brighten your smile and your day.
