Guide to Professional Teeth Whitening Procedures

Professional teeth whitening treatments can get you the white teeth that you desire. It is a non-invasive way to whiten teeth and works well on the typical types of stains found on teeth, like those caused by foods and beverages, by thinning enamel due to age and by smoking. Most patients are able to reach their desired shade of white after a single whitening treatment, but a few might require multiple treatments to reach the target color.

How professional teeth whitening works

Professional teeth whitening involves applying whitening products that contain bleaching agents, like hydrogen peroxide and hydrogen carbamide, to the patient's teeth. These chemicals react with stains in the inner and outer layers of teeth, lifting them away.

The first step toward getting a professional teeth whitening is a consultation with a dentist. The chemicals used to bleach teeth can temporarily weaken enamel, which is typically not an issue when the patient's teeth are healthy. Such patients would only deal with temporary teeth sensitivity that goes away after a few days.

However, when a patient has existing dental issues, like tooth decay or gum disease, the chemicals in the bleaching product can irritate their damaged gum tissues and teeth, leading to pain, irritation and permanent damage to teeth in some cases. Dentists typically recommend addressing existing dental issues before moving forward with whitening treatments.

The dentist might take an impression of the patient's teeth after clearing them for teeth whitening. The impression is sent to a dental lab that makes customized trays for teeth whitening. These trays allow dentists to evenly apply bleaching agents on their patients' teeth.

Preparing for the treatment

Patients can prepare for their teeth whitening treatment by brushing their teeth and using lip balm to moisturize their lips. This is because patients will not be able to moisturize their lips by licking them during treatment.

The dentist might recommend cleaning the patient's teeth before their whitening treatment. Tartar builds up on teeth over time, and teeth cleanings are needed to get rid of it. The bleaching agents used to whiten teeth do not always penetrate tartar, leading to uneven whitening.

Teeth whitening

The dentist starts by noting the shade of the patient's teeth. The oral professional will then help the patient select a shade of white that works for them. General speaking, anything lighter than a few shades lighter than the white of the patient's eyes can lead to unnatural-looking results.

The dentist will then spread the whitening product on the customized mouth tray and have the patient bite down on it for 60 to 90 minutes. The patient's teeth will be significantly whiter after the treatment. Patients might experience increased teeth sensitivity after their treatment. That should go away after a few days.

We whiten teeth regularly

Ready for a brighter smile? Call or visit our Stoughton clinic to set up an appointment with our dentist.

Request an appointment here: https://dentistryonpark.com or call Dentistry on Park, LLC at (781) 443-8131 for an appointment in our Stoughton office.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Professional Teeth Whitening in Stoughton, MA.