Teeth Whitening

What Is Professional Dental Whitening?

Professional dental whitening is known by several names, including chairside teeth whitening, power bleaching and in-office teeth whitening. With in-office teeth whitening, your dentist carefully monitors your treatment to ensure that you have a pain-free and safe experience. Unlike do-it-yourself whitening products, in-office treatments provide immediate and powerful results. This instant, dramatic whitening is due to the highly concentrated bleaching gel used by your dentist. This bleaching agent is much more concentrated than at-home products.

There are two types of tooth stains: those that simply affect the outer enamel and those that are caused by internal tooth issues. External stains are caused by the foods you eat, the beverages you drink and the lifestyle choices you make, like tobacco use. Discoloration caused by these issues tends to be yellowish, and they usually respond very well to professional whitening procedures. On the other hand, teeth that have deep structural staining caused by issues such as decay or tetracycline use don’t tend to respond well to whitening treatment. Crowns, veneers, fillings and other tooth restorations also do not change color during a whitening treatment.

Our teeth bleaching dentist will perform a comprehensive exam of your teeth and oral health to determine whether your teeth can be safely and effectively treated. One of the most important parts of this assessment is determining the underlying cause of your tooth discoloration so that we can find the best solution for your unique needs.

Will My Dentist Provide At-Home Whitening?

In-office teeth whitening isn’t your only option for a brighter, whiter smile. We also offer our patients professional kits for teeth whitening at home. Your kit’s whitening trays are made using impressions of your teeth, which ensures that your trays fit snugly on your teeth. Your kit also includes bleaching gel that is professional-grade and powerful, so you can enjoy terrific whitening power. The kit is very easy to use and convenient: simply fill the trays with the gel and place them on your teeth. Keep them in place for about an hour, and repeat this process each day for two weeks. After wearing the trays for two weeks, your teeth can be up to six shades lighter and brighter.

What Will Your Teeth Whitening Cost?

Generally, the average teeth bleaching cost is based on how many treatments are needed and the type of teeth whitening system selected. Costs also are affected by follow-up care such as whether at-home whitening kits are needed to maintain the results and if the dentist will need to even out the color of crowns, fillings and veneers after treatment. We can give you an accurate estimate after our dentist has had a chance to evaluate your dental health and your whitening needs. To get started, contact our office for a consultation today.

What Do You Gain with Professional Versus DIY Teeth Whitening Products?

There’s no doubt that over-the-counter teeth whitening systems are easily available and inexpensive. You can choose between gels, rinses, toothpastes, trays and strips, and you can use them at your leisure. These whitening solutions lack the power of professional dental whitening products, so they can’t deliver the immediate and noticeable results that professional treatment can. Our teeth whitening gel is exceptionally stronger and faster-working than the whitening agents in DIY products so you can count on consistent, dramatic results that are immediate when you have professional treatment.

How Does a Teeth Whitening Procedure Work?

Each type of in-office teeth whitening procedure differs a bit, but in general, the process takes about an hour to an hour-and-a-half. Below, we list a few of the steps your dentist is likely to perform:

1. Teeth are cleaned and examined.
2. Photos are taken to track progress and assess tooth coloring.
3. A cheek retractor helps reveal teeth and keep lips and cheeks out of the way.
4. Gums are shielded with an application of a protective liquid.
5. Multiple coatings are applied to teeth, with each coating left in place for a time and then removed.
6. Some bleaching gels require a special light to intensify results.
7. When the procedure is complete, our dentist evaluates the progress made and determines if additional in-office treatments or at-home kits are needed.

You can have whiter teeth and a more confident smile. Contact our office now to find out how you can schedule cosmetic teeth whitening in Columbia.