Stained or yellowing teeth can be a burden on your confidence and social life. By choosing a teeth whitening treatment, you can improve your interactions with others and boost your self-esteem. Cosmetic dentistry may seem like a luxury, but there are many options, including more affordable take-home kits that your dentist can recommend. So, how does teeth whitening work and what’s the difference between in-chair and professional take-home whitening kits?
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
If you’re hesitant to book a teeth whitening appointment, it might be because you’re unsure what the process will do to your teeth. If you wonder, “How does teeth whitening work,” it’s important to know what it entails and if it will improve your smile. There are many popular systems on the market for in-chair whitening using combinations of lasers and gels to create a whitening effect in your teeth.
The Pola Advanced Whitening System uses green light from a laser in combination with a red gel on the teeth to create a whiter smile. The red gel used as part of this system is non-acidic hydrogen peroxide.
A Smartbleach® interaction between the two colors works on large, light-absorbing molecules in your teeth to make them smaller, so they reflect the light, making your teeth appear whiter. The whole process takes around one hour, and results are instantaneous.
At-home whitening treatments might be more in line with what you’d automatically picture when you think of whitening your teeth. For take-home kits, you’ll receive whitening gel and a tray.
The tray is custom fit to your upper and/or lower arch so that none of the bleaching gel leaks out and has contact with your throat or the soft tissues in your mouth. This means that a stronger whitening agent can be used than you’d get over the counter, so you can see the effects of the process more quickly.
The peroxide gel is placed in the tray, and you’ll wear it in your mouth for a specific period determined by your dentist. The custom fit of this product and the teeth whitening gel provided are effective and safe.
Once you achieve the shade of white you want, which can take up to two weeks, you can stop wearing the custom trays and store them safely. Over time, the brightness of your teeth will fade, and you can pop the tray back in your mouth for a touch-up.
Tooth Whitening Treatments Available
There are plenty of options for teeth whitening available, so you’ll find a solution that fits your schedule and your price range. You can opt to have your teeth whitened in-chair at the dentist’s practice, or you can inquire about take-home teeth whitening kits.
At Available Dental Care, we offer both in-chair and take-home solutions for a brighter smile. For our in-chair whitening services, we recommend Pola Advanced Whitening System, using the laser and gel combination to achieve the look of whiter teeth.
We also offer a take-home kit consisting of a dental tray and a whitening gel with a less intense formula than we use in the practice. With the take-home kit option, you can tailor your teeth whitening to your busy schedule. Your dentist provides you with instructions on when to wear the tray, for how long, and how often.
Whitening with a take-home kit will take longer to see results than in-chair services, but it offers a flexible solution to those who want to whiten their teeth conveniently at home.
How Can I Keep My Teeth White?
After investing in whitening treatments, you’ll want to do your best to keep teeth white. A thorough oral hygiene routine on its own is not enough to prevent stains and discolouration, but it certainly helps. Brushing and flossing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste can prevent plaque from building up on your teeth.
Another way to keep your teeth looking white after treatment is to watch what you eat and drink. Coffee, tea, and red wine contain tannins, which stain your enamel. Smoking also leads to yellow teeth, and if you undergo whitening treatments, you should avoid smoking to maintain the benefits.
Let Us Brighten Your Smile
If you have a special event or think a brighter smile would boost your confidence, contact our practice to discuss your teeth whitening options. Whitening treatments only work on natural teeth, so we recommend whitening your teeth before getting a new restoration so we can match the shade for a seamless smile.
We are conveniently located in New South Wales and also offer an online booking option. To speak to our staff, call us on (02) 4062 8763 or send us an email at info@availabledentalcare.com.au.