Teeth Whitening

What Is Professional Teeth Whitening?

In-office teeth-whitening treatments are also called chairside teeth whitening or power bleaching. Treatment is carefully performed by your dentist to ensure that you achieve your desired whitening results without irritation. Highly concentrated bleaching gel is applied to your teeth during professional treatment, providing you with immediate and dramatic whitening results.

Tooth discoloration caused by smoking or the long-term consumption coffee, tea, wine, or cola typically responds best to professional whitening, and ideal candidates for the procedure have healthy teeth and gums. There are several types of tooth discoloration that don’t respond quite as well to teeth whitening. These include dark stains caused by taking tetracycline antibiotics, overexposure to fluoride, and stains caused by problems deep inside the tooth, such as decay or defective fillings. Unlike natural teeth, restorative materials such as fillings, crowns, veneers, and bridges also will not respond to professional whitening.

To ensure that your teeth and gums are healthy and prevent unexpected results, our dentists perform a careful examination of your mouth before proceeding with professional whitening treatment. If traditional whitening isn’t the best solution for you, our dentists will work with you to find the best whitening treatment that best meets your needs.

What Is Teeth Whitening at Home?

If you prefer the option of whitening your teeth in the comfort and privacy of your own home, we also offer professional at-home teeth whitening kits. To start this process, we’ll take impressions of your teeth to create customized whitening trays. The trays are used with our professional-strength whitening gel and look very similar to a mouth guard. You’ll dispense the whitening gel into the trays and wear them for a short amount of time during the day. Your dentist will provide you with detailed instructions about how to use your take-home whitening kit, but it’s common for patients to wear their trays for about an hour every day. Within two weeks, it’s possible to lighten your teeth up to six shades.

How Much Does Teeth Whitening Cost?

There are many factors that will affect the cost of teeth whitening, such as the number of treatments required, the level of tooth discoloration, the type of whitening system used, and whether any follow-up treatments are required. In general, our at-home whitening kits are less expensive in comparison to in-office treatments. Professional whitening isn’t usually covered by insurance since it’s considered a cosmetic treatment.

Please contact our office to schedule a consultation and learn more about teeth-bleaching costs. Our dentists can provide you with an estimate after examining your mouth and discussing your dental goals.

Is There a Difference Between Professional and DIY Teeth Whitening Products?

The main difference between professional and over-the-counter whitening products is the safety and reliability that comes with receiving treatment from a professional teeth-bleaching dentist. Although you have a lot more options to choose from when considering do-it-yourself whitening products, such as whitening strips and trays, rinses, and toothpastes, there’s always a risk of user error. If the bleaching solution of DIY whitening products comes into contact with your gums, you can experience severe irritation. These products can also cause uneven results when used incorrectly.

Although it’s possible to see some improvement with DIY products, they lack the consistency and strength provided by the whitening gel used by our dentists. To eliminate the issue of user error and achieve your desired whitening results, it’s best for your dentist to supervise the whitening process.

What Is the Teeth-Whitening Procedure?

The exact steps for an in-office teeth-whitening treatment can vary depending on the system used by your dentist. The following describes a standard procedure performed by an experienced teeth-bleaching dentist:

1. Your teeth will be professionally cleaned and examined.
2. Photos of your teeth may be taken to track your progress after treatment.
3. A small device called a cheek retractor is placed in your mouth to expose all visible teeth.
4. To protect gum tissue, a protective liquid is applied.
5. The bleaching gel is applied to teeth. Several coatings may be needed, and each application will be left on for a specific amount of time and then removed.
6. An intense light may be used to enhance the bleaching process.
7. After the last application of bleaching gel, your dentist will remove the cheek retractor and evaluate the shade change of your teeth. If necessary, follow-up visits or at-home treatments will be discussed.

Are you ready to experience the benefits of teeth whitening? Contact our office today to make an appointment for teeth whitening in Baltimore.