Your smile is one of the first things that enhance your first impression, and having a bright smile is a dream to all. An in-office teeth whitening is the best option if you want a bright and graceful smile. Teeth whitening kit is preferred by many people because of its ease, but an in-office teeth whitening procedure done by a professional restorative dentist is certainly the best option.
Around 32.8% of orthodontics provide teeth whitening services worldwide, making it an easily accessible option for everyone. In the following article we will take a look at some details regarding in-office teeth whitening, what to expect during your session, and how it is better as compared to teeth whitening kit.
Teeth whitening and why you need it
Teeth whitening is a procedure that involves the usage of bleaching agents such as hydrogen peroxide to clean and whiten your teeth. You can also do it at home with a teeth whitening kit, but getting a professional restorative dentist involved is certainly the best option.
Furthermore, you may also be able to find teeth whitening toothpastes as they have become quite popular in the last few years. With the popularity that this product has gained, its market value is estimated to reach 5.41 billion by the year 2024. Here is why you may need a professional teeth whitening session:
- To treat stained teeth: Stained teeth are a big turn-off for many people. If you also have stained teeth, either go for teeth whitening or porcelain veneers to give your teeth a new and enhanced look.
- To boost confidence: Having a bright smile is certainly the best way to boost one’s confidence. You can put up a big smile on your face without hesitating simply by a teeth whitening kit or a professional session.
- Long-lasting results: While a teeth whitening kit may not give you lasting results, a professional teeth whitening session will.
Precautions before teeth whitening treatment
Following are a few precautions that your dentist may take before you go into a session:
- Routine checkup: Your dentist will perform a routine checkup to see if there are any cracks in your teeth or infections in your gums. This is to ensure safety as bleaching agents may deteriorate the condition.
- Choosing the right tooth color: Making use of a shade guide, your restorative dentist will help you choose a color for your mouth to give it a natural look.
- Lip retractor: Your dentist will place a lip retractor inside your mouth to keep it open when you undergo a treatment procedure.
- Protection from whitening solution: He or she will place a rubber dam on your gums to avoid the whitening solution from affecting your gums. .
What happens in an in office teeth whitening session?
Here are the steps that you may undergo during an in office treatment by a professional restorative dentist.
- Evaluation
As mentioned earlier, your dentist will perform a complete checkup or evaluation of your oral cavity to ensure that you don’t have an infection or disease that may deteriorate during the treatment. After ensuring that your mouth is cavity free, your restorative dentist will start cleaning your mouth so that it’s ready for a whitening procedure later on.
If you have crowns or porcelain veneers, the treatment may not work on you. And if you have cavities or infective gums, the dentist will not proceed with the session and ask you to come back later.
- Cleaning
The next step is cleaning. Your restorative dentist will clean your teeth with cleaning tools to remove any plaque and tartar. He or she may also apply a grainy polish to ensure deep cleaning before you enter the whitening treatment. Deep cleaning is essential to ensure better whitening results.
A gauze will be placed in your mouth to keep it dry. Furthermore, a lip retractor will be placed to keep your mouth open and lips away from your teeth.
- Whitening procedure
After applying a dental dam to your gums to ensure their safety, your dentist will start the procedure. This will include applying a gel to your teeth containing bleaching agents, mostly hydrogen peroxide and carbamide. After applying the gel, a strong laser will be used to accelerate your treatment. This will activate the gel and allow for better results to occur. A teeth whitening session usually lasts for about an hour or two.
- Rinsing
The gel will be rinsed off from your teeth and all the precautions that were taken before the whitening procedure will be taken off. Make your rinse your mouth properly with water to avoid risking the gel getting into contact with your gums.
- Aftercare
Your dentist will give you an aftercare guide to help you take care of your teeth after the treatment. You may experience a little tooth sensitivity after the treatment, but it is common and nothing to worry about.
Although the teeth whitening procedure takes care of the existing stains, it does not protect your teeth from future stains. This is why taking care of your teeth even after the whitening procedure is essential and not to be taken lightly. Some precautions that may help protect your teeth are:
- Stop smoking as it will only promote staining.
- Reduce the use of stain causing products, such as drinks and certain medications.
- Stop consuming sticky foods that may stick to your teeth and become difficult to remove, providing breeding ground for bacteria and eventually leading to cavities.
Conclusion
A teeth whitening kit, although a good option, is not to be preferred over professional treatment. A teeth whitening kit will not give as long lasting and accurate results as a professional dentist treatment will.
If you are exploring whitening options for your teeth, we have one right here for you. Visit Lycian Dental Clinic, where our professional dentists offer teeth whitening treatments with promising results. At Lycian, we offer 24/7 consultation to improve your dentist experience and help you figure out the right options for you.
