Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental procedure that might appeal to you for various reasons. You may suffer from mild or severe stains on your teeth, or may simply desire a whiter and brighter smile to improve your appearance. At RiverRock Dental, Shakopee, MN, we offer you a wide range of cosmetic dentistry treatments to improve the esthetics of your smile. If you have healthy teeth and gums, you may be the perfect candidate for a teeth whitening procedure.
Professional Teeth Whitening
Professional teeth whitening involves a teeth bleaching procedure performed by a dentist. Such treatments are dramatically effective and can help you achieve a dazzling smile and improved levels of confidence. Professional teeth whitening may be an in-office treatment or an at-home tray-based treatment.
In-office Whitening Procedure:
This is known to be the quickest and most effective way to whiten your teeth. Your dentist will perform this procedure in the dental clinic wherein the bleaching gel is applied directly onto the teeth and activated using a curing light or laser. The tooth shade is drastically lightened in just a single appointment that can last anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes. While a single sitting is often adequate enough for standard whitening treatments, sometimes multiple sessions might be required for those with severe stains.
Tray-Based Whitening Procedure:
In some circumstances, your dentist will fabricate customized mouth trays for you that are supposed to be filled with the teeth whitening gel and can be worn for use at home. The bleaching trays are shaped like mouth guards and are meant to be worn for a few hours every day for a recommended number of weeks. The duration of the treatment depends on the amount of teeth staining and the desired results expected from the whitening treatment.
At-Home Teeth Whitening Systems
There are a number of teeth whitening products available in the market today that do not require you to make dental appointments. While such teeth whitening kits do not provide the same dramatic results that professional teeth whitening does, it can be an appropriate option for those who don’t have the time to visit dentists or for those looking for a more straightforward solution to yellow teeth. Professional bleaching procedures also cost more than at-home teeth whitening products; some of the most affordable options are –
Over-the-counter Whitening Strips:
Whitening strips are thin, plastic strips that can be applied directly onto the teeth. They are coated with a whitening gel that contains bleaching agents like peroxides. Directions to use such strips and how long they should be applied for are provided on the box they come in and should be followed accordingly. It usually takes a few months to get the desired results from using whitening strips.
Whitening Toothpaste:
Whitening toothpastes contain certain polishing agents and chemicals that help in stain removal from teeth. While all toothpastes contain mild abrasives that help clean teeth, whitening toothpastes are known to be slightly more productive and help improve the color of teeth by making them one shade lighter. Unlike professional whitening products, teeth whitening toothpastes do not contain bleaching agents and do not provide the same results that professional bleaching does.
Teeth Whitening Mouthwashes:
These mouthwashes are the newest innovation in at-home teeth whitening systems. Apart from having all the properties of a standard mouthwash, they also contain a bleaching agent like hydrogen peroxide that can assist in the whitening of teeth. Whitening mouth rinses are used just like ordinary mouthwashes. However, they are not believed to be as effective as other teeth whitening methods, and it may take months to notice a visible improvement in teeth shade.
It is essential to remember that teeth whitening treatments do not have ever-lasting effects. Teeth shade is affected by food and drink habits, age, oral hygiene practices etc. Visit us at RiverRock Dental in Downtown Shakopee, MN for expert advice on the best teeth whitening procedures for you.
