What You Need to Know About Teeth Whitening at Home and in Our Dentist Office

Teeth whitening is not the most complicated process and it is extremely effective. Today, you have an array of products available that will allow you to do it yourself, in the comfort of your home, and at virtually any budget. The importance of a white smile and the confidence it brings has led to a revolution in the ease and availability of products to provide a whiter smile. Television and other media are inundated with bright smiling actors all claiming to have the best solution to stained teeth. Dentists have been offering whitening solutions for a while and are adept at finding the right solutions for you. There are distinct advantages to visiting a dentist before choosing to have your teeth whitened, and it is highly recommended that you explore all options for this important image enhancement.

For example, a store bought solution is probably going to be less expensive. Since your insurance may not cover in-office teeth whitening, we have priced it affordably but can’t compete with the price of whitening toothpaste. On the other hand, price is not everything when it comes to your health and well-being. We will make sure that your mouth receives the right kind of care, examining your history and oral health before making any recommendations as to the kind of treatment you should receive. Examining your mouth for cavities, gingivitis, and infections before putting a peroxide solution in your mouth is important.  This ensures that you won’t have a reaction to the solution that could cause discomfort.  As a dentist, we will correct these problems before proceeding to the teeth whitening solution. We will take into account your full medical and oral health history before starting to whiten your teeth.

There are other distinct advantages to being under the supervision of a dentist when having your teeth whitening procedure done. The solution provided in a store bought product has far less hydrogen peroxide, which can result in slower whitening and be less effective. We can use a gel that has between 15% and 43% hydrogen peroxide depending on what your teeth need. The store bought solutions have a 10% – 22% of carbamide peroxide. This is equivalent to 3% hydrogen peroxide which does not have the whitening power of the solutions we provide. Additionally we will look at the type of stains you have on your teeth and what some of the root causes are. This allows us to make a diagnosis and clear determination of the type of tooth whitening that should be performed, the level of hydrogen peroxide needed and what method should be followed. By apply the solution directly to the teeth and using a custom designed tray, we can whiten quickly and more effectively.

Regardless of your budget, if you desire to have a whiter smile there are a number of solutions that are available. It is always recommended that you visit our dentist office before making a decision to whiten and selecting a product to use.  This way we can ensure that you are in good oral health and recommend a solution that is best suited for your individual needs.