Professional teeth whitening treatments are the way to go when patients are looking for the quickest way to improve the color of their teeth. These treatments are performed using prescription-grade bleaching agents that only dentists have access to.
Professional teeth whitening is often done using customized mouth trays that the patient bites down on. These trays keep the patient's teeth soaked in the bleaching agent and prevent it from seeping into the gums or other soft tissues.
There are a variety of over-the-counter teeth whitening products sold all over. However, these products are not as concentrated as the products used by dentists, and the lower-end ones can be abrasive on teeth surfaces. It also takes a longer time to get noticeable results with OTC teeth whitening products.
People who are interested in getting whitening treatments should have good dental health. Teeth whitening treatments weaken enamel and it can lead to teeth sensitivity. Unfortunately, it is a side effect of teeth whitening, but it typically only lasts for a few days.
People with oral problems like tooth decay and gum disease already have weakened enamel and whitening treatments can end up causing permanent damage to their teeth. Dentists will typically evaluate the patient's mouth before performing teeth whitening treatments. One thing to keep in mind is that people who opt for OTC whitening products do not get the benefits of having a dentist evaluate their teeth to see if it is safe for them to proceed with treatments.
Once a patient is cleared for teeth whitening, the dentist will have them bite down on a mold to make an impression of their teeth. The mold is sent to dental technicians in a lab and it should be ready within two weeks. The patient's teeth whitening treatment can proceed once the tray is ready.
The dentist might clean the patient's teeth at the start of the whitening treatment. The whitening product is evenly spread on the mouth tray and the patient bites down on it and keeps it in place for 60 to 90 minutes. The tray keeps the patient's teeth soaked in the whitening product for the duration of their treatment. It also prevents it from burning soft tissues like the gums.
A single professional whitening treatment can improve the color of a person's teeth by up to eight shades. However, most patients need multiple treatments to reach the shade of white they desire, especially when whitening trays are used. The most significant side effect of teeth whitening treatments is temporary teeth sensitivity. This can be managed with teeth desensitizing products or fluoride treatments performed after whitening.
Patients can keep their teeth looking white after whitening treatments by doing simple things like:
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