Whitening treatments can be very effective at brightening stained and naturally dark teeth. Having your teeth whitened is a great (and affordable) way to boost your confidence and improve the overall appearance of your smile.
There are different kinds of bleaching options available, some of which can be found over-the-counter at any pharmacy, and those that are exclusively obtained from our Mesa, Arizona dentist.
Your Professional Teeth Whitening Consultation
If you want to have your teeth professionally whitened, the first thing that you’ll need to do is come in for a bleaching consultation.
What We Need To Know
During your initial visit, we’ll check to make sure that you don’t have any cavities or areas in your mouth that shouldn’t be exposed to bleaching agents. For example, teeth with gum recession or root exposure can become very tender when whitening solutions are applied. If you currently have any teeth that are sensitive to certain temperatures then be sure to let us know.
We’ll also take a look at the shade of your teeth to determine their color and to see if you have deep, stubborn stains, or just surface discoloration.
Also, to be sure that we recommend the appropriate treatment for you, make sure to tell us if there is a specific timeframe in which you need to have your teeth whitened. For instance, if you have a big event coming up, we can plan ahead and make sure that your new smile is ready in time. But if you aren’t in a rush, you have more options available.
Types of Professional Teeth Whitening
When getting your teeth professionally whitened, there are typically two different methods to choose from. Our Mesa dentist can give you their recommendation as to which one is best for you based on what was determined at your consultation. Both bleaching options will give you the same results but the way you get there is slightly different.
Take-Home Whitening — For take-home whitening systems we’ll typically take impressions of your teeth so that we can create custom-fit trays for your mouth. Since these trays fit snuggly against your teeth, we can ensure that the bleaching gel gets into all the areas that it needs to, which will result in a more uniform color improvement.
The bleaching solution that you’ll use for the trays is prescription strength and available only from our dentist. Depending on the strength that you get, you may have to wear the trays for anywhere from 30 minutes a day to overnight for one to two weeks.
In-Office (Same Day) Teeth Whitening — Also known as chairside whitening, this procedure uses a similar professional-grade whitening gel that is sometimes used in conjunction with a special light to activate the bleaching formula’s whitening properties.
Depending on the system that’s used, we may still make custom bleaching trays for you to wear at home. They’re often used as home whitening touch-up treatments as needed, or after your regular checkup appointments.
On the day of your in-office whitening procedure, you should expect the appointment to last about 90 minutes. Once you’re properly prepped and your teeth are isolated, we’ll place the bleaching gel on your teeth and aim the activating light over the area to oxidize the stain particles. You’ll sit back and relax for about 15 minutes while the light and bleaching gel work their magic. When the time is over, we’ll remove the bleaching gel and place a new fresh layer to treat the area for another 15 minutes. We may repeat this process a third, or even fourth time depending on how stubborn your stains are.
When the process is complete, you’ll see much brighter teeth than before. The results will be about the same as what two weeks of professional at-home treatments look like (except they only take a little over an hour!)
Over-the-Counter Teeth Whitening
Bleaching strips are available over-the-counter. This method comes in different varieties and can give you quite noticeable results over time. Especially if your teeth aren’t very dark to begin with.
The bleaching strips system consists of applying a thin, sticky, strip to your teeth that has pre-loaded bleaching gel on it. Some products offer strips that dissolve and others need to be peeled off after a few minutes.
These formulas come in different formulas and the length of time for application varies, so be sure to read your labels before deciding which one to purchase.
Teeth Whitening Treatments in Mesa, Arizona
If you’re interested in boosting your confidence with wither teeth, then call Eastport Dental of Mesa, Arizona today.
