How Does Teeth Whitening Work in a Dental Office?

Are your teeth discolored? You’re not alone if so. In a study of students at Gulf Medical University, researchers identified tooth discoloration in approximately 43.5% of study participants. Data such as this suggest some degree of tooth discoloration may affect nearly half of the population.

Many over-the-counter toothpastes and whitening kits promise to brighten stained teeth. However, for various reasons, ranging from weak ingredients to unclear usage instructions, they may not always deliver ideal results.

Consider scheduling professional teeth whitening at a dental office if you want to be confident your chosen whitening method will deliver ideal results. Although you should always ask a dentist for more information about this topic if you have any questions, the following overview will explain the basics of what to expect from an in-office whitening.

Professional Teeth Whitening in a Dental Office: How the Process Works

The process of an in-office teeth whitening usually involves the following steps:

Consultation and Evaluation

The dentist may begin by evaluating the extent of your dental discoloration and determining whether professional whitening is right for your needs. During this initial consultation, feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Preparation

The dentist will provide you with instructions for the day of the treatment. When treatment begins, the dentist will apply a gel or protective barrier to your gums to prevent the bleaching agent from coming into contact with them. You could experience irritation if a dentist skipped this step.

Applying the Whitening Agent

The dentist will proceed by applying a bleaching or whitening agent to your teeth. The ingredients of the whitening agent a dentist uses will typically be stronger than those you might find in over-the-counter whitening products.

Applying a Specialized Light

After thoroughly covering the surfaces of your teeth with a bleaching agent, the dentist will direct a specialized light at your teeth. Doing so boosts both the efficiency and the effectiveness of the whitening agent. The light is safe and won’t cause any short-term or long-term side effects.

Finishing Up

The entire in-office whitening process usually takes less than an hour. Upon completing treatment, you may rinse out your mouth and wrap the session up by discussing whether any additional treatment is necessary.

Professional At-Home Whitening: Another Option

Most people can spare an hour for an in-office whitening treatment. However, maybe you have a busy lifestyle, and thus prefer the convenience of being able to whiten your teeth at home.

If so, you may still benefit from speaking with a cosmetic dentist instead of blindly choosing an over-the-counter product that may not be as effective as you’d like. At the very least, a dentist could recommend a product to use.

Or, they may offer custom whitening trays. Said trays deliver more impressive results than over-the-counter products in part because a lab has designed them to fit your teeth. Custom trays tend to whiten a patient’s teeth more thoroughly than one-size-fits-all trays.

Learn More About Professional Teeth Whitening in Bronxville, NY

The best way to determine if you’d benefit from professional teeth whitening is to discuss the matter with a dentist. At Bronxville Family Dental, we’d be happy to answer your questions about this topic. Get started today by contacting us online or calling us at 914-337-8430 to request an appointment.