It’s very important to consider the differences between Quicker Results
Regardless of the method you choose, both in-office and in-home solutions will use hydrogen peroxide as the main bleaching agent for your teeth. Generally, In-office systems contain 15% to 43% peroxide, while in-home kits contain 5% to 20% peroxide. The higher peroxide content of the bleaching agent that is used at the dentist whitens your teeth better and in a shorter amount of time.
In addition to a higher peroxide level, dentists may also use light or heat to further speed up the process and intensify the brightening results. While in-home methods often take several weeks or months to see any results, with professional teeth whitening, you may get a brighter smile that is shades lighter within just one hour.
Lower Risk of Tooth Damage & Sensitivity
Following a teeth whitening treatment, its very common to be at risk of tooth sensitivity and gum irritation. Very often the whitening gel is left on the teeth for too long. This dehydrates your teeth and causes weakening and sensitivity of the tooth enamel. If the peroxide agent gets on your gums, it can start to irritate and inflame the edges around your teeth causing pain or discomfort. In most cases, It’s much more likely that the patient will misuse an in-home whitening kit. This is why most agree that an in-office is best. Your dental professional will prepare your teeth and gums before applying the bleaching agent. This will mitigate risk and help protect them from harm.
A Longer Lasting and Brighter Smile
Having your teeth whitened at the dentists has its advantages. The most important being that the treatment will have a higher level oversight. This helps guarantee better results. Lets go over some of the steps and advantages below.
Prior to teeth whitening, a standard checkup will help determine if you’re good candidate for teeth whitening. Your dentist will check to see if you have any visible restorations to prevent discolorations or stains. Your dentist will be able to examine your teeth thoroughly and determine whether bleaching is right for you.
The dental professional will also be clean your teeth and remove any tartar or plaque before applying the bleaching agent. During your treatment, Dr. Drake will also monitor the whitening procedure. This will help make sure nothing goes wrong and the treatment is as painless as possible.
Unlike many in-home whitening methods which remove only small amounts of discoloration and plaque on the surface of the teeth, an in-office professional whitening helps penetrate teeth from within. This is where age and medication related discoloration occurs. This results in better and longer lasting result. (Keep in mind, depending on your individual case, your teeth may require more than one session to see dramatic results.)
Are you interested in professional teeth whitening? Contact our office or request a teeth whitening consultation. We hope to see you in soon!