How Professional Teeth Whitening is Done

For those that notice that their smile has become discoloured, professional teeth whitening may be a great solution. Our Delta dentists explain how professional teeth whitening is done, as well as which teeth whitening procedures your dentist is able to perform.

How are professional teeth whitening procedures done?

If you are like many others you may see your smile and wish that it could be just a little whiter.

We show our teeth a lot, while we are eating, laughing with those we care about, and during photos and just in daily interactions but years of eating, using tobacco, and drinking beverages with high pigments such as red wine, coffee, or tea may have taken a toll. Fortunately, professional teeth whitening may be able to help.

Types of Teeth Whitening Procedures

While you may not have realized, there is more than one form of teether whitening, they are:

In-Office Whitening

If you are looking for a more effective form of teeth whitening then you should consider professional whitening performed in a dental office. Your dentist’s gel has much stronger whitening agents that can produce more effective results than over-the-counter products. In-office whitening involves the following steps:

1. After cleaning your teeth, your dentist will perform an oral exam to look for tooth decay, gingivitis, or fractures that may have to be corrected before your teeth can be whitened.
2. The dentist puts a cheek retractor in your mouth, then paints your gum tissue with a hardening resin or liquid rubber dam to prevent any irritation the bleaching gel could cause.
3. Bleaching gel is applied and stays on for 15 to 30 minutes before being washed off. Fresh gel is used for another 15 to 30 minutes.
4. Your dentist may shine a light on your teeth to start the bleaching process.
5. Your teeth are checked intermittently to make sure they are whitening properly. More bleach may need to be administered.
6. Your cheek retractor is removed after a final gel application, and your dentist will take a first shade change measurement. Your “true new colour” should emerge after about two days.
7. Depending on whether the desired whitening occurred, you may need to follow up with more in-office treatments or try take-home whitening trays.

Take-Home Whitening Trays

Take-home whitening trays offer the cost-effectiveness, convenience and comfort of whitening your teeth at home. They are a good option if dental teeth whitening is not covered by your insurance plan or if professional in-office teeth whitening is cost-prohibitive.

You’ll first need your dentist to take an impression of your teeth to create custom-fitted trays, which take about one to two weeks to produce. You’ll place the trays in your mouth and leave them in for an hour a day over a two-week timeframe. At the end of the process, people typically notice better results when compared with over-the-counter options.

Are your teeth discoloured? Contact our Delta dentists to schedule an appointment at Omega Dental and find out if you are a candidate for professional teeth whitening.