Professional Teeth Whitening 101 – Understanding The Basics

Here is a brief discussion about the professional teeth whitening process, working, and aftercare

Everyone wants a bright smile and there are quite a lot of ways to whiten teeth. There are basically two categories of teeth whitening options to choose from: professional, in-office bleaching, or at-home products.

No matter which type of teeth whitening you choose, both will contain peroxide-based bleaching agents. While you have the option to choose from any of the two, professional teeth whitening is the better choice. Let us take a look at how professional teeth whitening works, its effectiveness, and aftercare.

The Process

• Teeth whitening is a simple process. Whitening products contain one of the two tooth bleaches; hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. These bleaches break stains into smaller pieces, which make the color less concentrated and your teeth brighter.

In-Office Bleaching

This procedure is called chairside bleaching and usually requires one visit to the dentist’s office. The dentist will apply either a protective gel to your gums or a rubber shield to protect your gums. Bleach is then applied to the teeth.

What Happens at the Dental Clinic?

This is a simple non-invasive process that requires no drilling.

Step 1

• You will have an initial consultation to make sure you are an acceptable candidate for teeth whitening.

Step 2

Once it is determined that you can proceed, the dentist will give your teeth a professional cleaning. This will remove any plaque or other built-up food remains. This process can help with brightening your teeth.

Step 3

• The dentist will examine your teeth and check for any cavities or other dental issues. Then the dentist may take pictures of your teeth to determine the best shade to whiten your teeth.

Step 4

After the shade has been determined, the dentist will place a cheek- retractor, which exposes your teeth for treatment. Then, they will apply a resin or protective gel that will harden to keep your gums from being irritated.

• The actual bleaching gel is applied and left to sit for half an hour. A laser light might be applied to produce better results. Once these steps are complete and you have waited the appropriate amount of time, the protective guard is removed and you should see results immediately.

After Care

You can keep your smile pretty by using whitening toothpaste, brushing your teeth with baking soda, or using whitening dental floss.

Teeth Whitening Works Best at a Dentist

• Teeth whitening at the dentist works much faster than DIY at home teeth-whitening procedures. In addition to the stronger peroxide solution that is used in dental offices, heat or light or both can be used to speed up and intensify the whitening effects of professional treatment

Professional Teeth Whitening is Safe

At-home teeth whitening treatments carry risks. At the dentist when you get your teeth whitening treatment, you also will have your teeth and gums cleaned so that plaque and tartar are removed and any cavities are filled.

How Better Results Are Generated

• The in-office treatment uses a higher dosage of either carbamide or hydrogen peroxide than what is available at most in-home whitening kits. For example, most strips use only about 6% hydrogen peroxide. At-home trays use about 22%. Professional dental whitening solutions, on the other hand, use 35% of hydrogen peroxide.

Vigilance During Treatment

During the professional teeth whitening treatment, your dentist is watching to make sure nothing goes wrong.

Teeth whitening is an important part of your dental care. Feeling good about your smile is the best reason to give it to someone. Celebrity Smiles and General Dentistry is the right place to choose for all your dental issues. We provide teeth whitening services in Westmont IL and nearby areas.