Teeth whitening in Maryland

Why Is Professional Dental Whitening Often Best?

Professional treatment helps ensure that your teeth are suitable for the procedure, helping you to avoid lackluster results or injury to your teeth and gums. In-office whitening, also known as chairside teeth whitening, is carefully monitored by our teeth bleaching dentist to ensure a safe, pain-free procedure. The bleaching gel used by your dentist is highly concentrated so you see immediate and striking results. Chairside whitening is most effective on teeth that are stained by long-term smoking and consumption of dark-pigmented foods and beverages.

Some stains don’t respond to teeth whitening treatments. Teeth that have been discolored by tetracycline use, for instance, aren’t usually improved by whitening efforts. If your tooth discoloration is caused by deep structural issues such as decay or defective fillings, the whitening process also may not be effective. While most natural tooth surfaces will become lighter during treatment, tooth restorations such as crowns, veneers and fillings will not.

When you come into our office for a teeth whitening consultation, our dentist will thoroughly examine your teeth to determine the root cause of your discoloration. This evaluation helps us to work with you to find the best whitening option for your teeth. If you want a brighter, whiter smile, call one of our 10 offices to schedule an evaluation with one of our experienced dentists today.

Does Your Dentist Offer Teeth Whitening at Home?

Many of our patients choose to gradually whiten their teeth at home using our convenient home whitening kits. These kits are made by your dentist using impressions of your teeth so the trays fit your teeth comfortably. In addition to your custom whitening trays, our kits include professional-grade bleaching gel that is highly effective at whitening teeth. For best results, you’ll wear the tray for one hour a day for two weeks. Often, we can lighten your teeth up to six shades during that two-week period.

What Does Teeth Whitening Cost?

A number of factors influence the cost of teeth whitening, from the type of teeth whitening system you choose to whether you’ll need a dentist to smooth out the color of your crowns and fillings after treatment. If you require multiple teeth whitening treatments or if you need to use at-home kits to maintain your bright smile, those needs also factor into your teeth bleaching cost. We understand that you want to achieve a whiter smile as economically as possible. Before treatment, we’ll evaluate your needs and develop a treatment plan based on your specific goals. The treatment plan outlines your costs so you know exactly what to expect financially.

Are DIY Teeth Whitening Products Better Than Professional Options?

If you’re considering teeth whitening, it’s important to identify your goals before choosing a product. The teeth whitening gels, trays, strips, rinses and toothpastes available at your local drug store are fine if you want faint whitening and if you don’t mind using the product for an extended period of time. If you want immediately dramatic results, you should consider a professional procedure. Professional whitening gels are more powerful than DIY products, so you experience noticeably whiter teeth faster than you would with a DIY product. If you use DIY systems incorrectly, you may also irritate your gums. Professional treatment offers close supervision of your procedure so you can count on consistent, safe results.

What Happens During a Teeth Whitening Procedure?

The type of whitening system you choose determines the procedure’s various steps. In general, though, here’s what will happen during your treatment:

1. Your dentist examines and cleans your teeth.
2. Photos may be used to choose tooth shade and monitor progress.
3. A cheek retractor is used to expose visible teeth.
4. A protective fluid is applied to gums.
5. Several layers of bleaching gel are applied to teeth with each layer left in place for several minutes then removed before another layer is applied.
6. In some cases, a light is used to accelerate results.
7. When bleaching is complete, your dentist evaluates tooth color changes to determine if you require at-home or follow-up treatment.

If you’ve dreamed of a whiter, more confident smile, call us today to discover the benefits of cosmetic teeth whitening in Maryland.