When it comes to teeth whitening procedures, there’s lots to consider. In this post, our Ottawa dentists break down the choices from in-office to at-home options, and what you can expect with each.
What are the best teeth whitening procedures?
In-Office Professional Teeth Whitening
In-Office Bleaching
For an immediately visible change the best results, professional teeth whitening at your dentist’s office is your best bet, as the non-invasive, simple procedure is done by a trained professional. It can often be done in about an hour.
Veneers
Sometimes, other teeth whitening methods aren’t sufficient and you’ll need veneers to restore your smile to its original whiteness. These razor-thin shells are made of porcelain or composite resin. They are bonded over the front of one or more of your teeth to give you a whiter looking, more symmetrical and natural-looking smile.
At-Home Teeth Whitening
The DIY (do-it-yourself) option is a popular one if you’re on a budget, since it costs significantly less than your dentist’s in-office teeth whitening service. Bonus: you can do it in the comfort and convenience of your home.
Your dentist will create a custom mold of your teeth, which will be used to create your whitening trays. The trays will be filled with gel and you’ll use them according to your dentist’s instructions.
Within 10 to 14 days, many patients notice a difference and you should see more results by the end of your treatment. But don’t expect the same degree of whitening as you would get at a dental clinic, as you’ll find lower concentrations of bleaching gels in at-home solutions.
At Greenbank Hunt Club Dental, we have at-home teeth whitening options available, including custom whitening trays for our patients. Alternatives include over-the-counter alternatives such as toothpastes, gels and trays.
Toothpastes
The mild abrasives in teeth whitening toothpastes are to remove surface stains. You may find more polishing agents and special chemicals in some whitening toothpastes versus regular toothpaste, but they don’t bleach your teeth.
Take-Home kits
We recommend purchasing take-home kits from your dentist’s office, either in a custom-made tray or ready-made kit. Expect a longer timeline for gels and trays to yield results.
Depending on the strength of peroxide in the gel, you’ll usually wear the trays for a couple hours per day or at night. The length of time will vary, it could take anywhere from three days to a couple of weeks, before you notice whiter teeth.
While trays from your dentist are custom-made to fit you properly and contain a stronger peroxide agent to whiten your teeth faster, over-the-counter trays are sized generically. Bleach could get on your gums and cause irritation.
Patients who’d like to whiten their teeth have many options to restore their smile. We can help you choose the best teeth whitening procedure for you based on your budget and goals.