Store-bought whitening trays only improve surface stains. But dental-grade care is needed to penetrate and remove deeper stains.
The first step is meeting with our dentist to discuss what you want your teeth to look like. The dentist will examine your teeth and go over any oral health concerns that might need addressing before whitening can proceed. This is a great time to ask any questions you might have to get a complete picture of your treatment options.
If teeth whitening is right for you, then you can move forward with deciding on a treatment plan. We look at factors like your expectations, preferences, dental health, enamel strength, and schedule to match you with either in-office whitening or take-home whitening kits.
Both at-home and in-office treatments require a preparation step. For in-office: we first place a cheek retractor, which keeps the cheeks, sides of the mouth, and lips away from the teeth and gums. We also apply a gel to protect your soft tissues and gums from the whitening materials. For at-home: we take impressions of your teeth to ensure you receive trays that fit your smile.
Let the whitening begin. An in-office treatment involves applying the whitening agent to each tooth and then using a UV light to activate it. At-home trays are ready to use as soon as you get home and come with complete instructions. The treatment may take more time than an in-office one.
In-office teeth whitening remains the golden standard because it allows you to receive treatment from a qualified professional. There is no need to worry about forgetting an instruction or making a mistake as there would be with take-home kits. Each treatment lasts about one hour and can whiten your teeth multiple shades with a single treatment. The extent of improvement varies, but many patients see teeth up to 10 shades whiter by the end of their first session.
However, significant cases of tooth staining or discoloration may require more than one session. This will all be covered during your consultation when building your treatment plan with our specialist.
Take-home whitening kits have the benefit of allowing you to achieve your results on your own schedule. They are still an improvement over store-bought kits, due to the dental-grade materials. The treatment works over the span of a week and can deliver results comparable to a single in-office session.
First, we take impressions of your teeth to make custom-made trays. Once these are fabricated in our lab, you can come to collect them from the office along with the whitening products and your complete instructions. Treatment involves placing the whitening gel in your trays and then placing those trays over your teeth for a certain amount of time. Most treatments involve repeating this daily for about 1 week.
Guided Light Optics (GLO) is a technological system that we use to enhance the whitening process. Using a specific combination of light and heat energy, we can energize the peroxide formula, producing quicker results while still protecting your teeth. This system is available for our take-home kits to accelerate the process of seeing a brighter smile.
The materials for in-office teeth whitening can contain 15–43% peroxide, allowing for flexible, effective treatment.
Both at-home and in-office whitening treatments produce comparable, consistent results. So choosing the right one for you is mostly a matter of your preferences. In-office treatments are best for faster results, though they require spending about an hour in the office for each treatment.
At-home whitening is a slower process, but you can do it on your own schedule. Additionally, the gentler at-home solution may be better for patients with more sensitive teeth.
Individual results can vary for teeth whitening results. Factors that can affect what your outcome looks like can include:
● Original shade of your teeth
● Severity of discoloration
● Presence of congenital or tetracycline stains
● Causes of stains
● Number of treatments
● Cleanliness of teeth(plaque and buildup can interfere with results)
● Dietary intake after whitening (avoid staining foods)
● Type of discoloration (e.g., yellow stains respond better than brown or gray stains)
● Your dentist's experience
Most patients will see whiter teeth after a single in-office treatment session. However, the extent of your results can be affected by the factors mentioned above. Your dentist will outline what your expected results will be before you start treatment, so there should be no surprises.
While teeth whitening uses chemicals that break down compounds, they are safe for your teeth when used properly. Store-bought options, however, can be riskier, as they are less regulated than dental-grade materials. That is why we always recommend working with an experienced professional for those who want the perfect balance of safety and efficacy.
The concentration of peroxide in take-home whitening kits is lower than in-office gels, leading to a more gradual process.
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
