Your Oakville Invisalign® Provider
You have most likely seen your friends and even celebrities get excellent teeth whitening results. Here, our Oakville dentists explain to you the details you should know about professional teeth whitening services and how they may help brighten your smile.
What is Teeth Whitening
As we age our teeth naturally become darker gradually, and this change could be the result of lifestyle elements such as taking certain medications, drinking dark drinks such as coffee, tea, or alcohol, smoking, and general tear and wear after years of use.
Professional teeth whitening treatments use peroxide-based bleaching agents to lighten the colour of your teeth and reduce the appearance of surface stains. As the peroxide breaks down, oxygen acts on tooth enamel and creates the whitening effect.
Professional Teeth Whitening at Our Office
Professional teeth whitening in the dental office is a popular treatment for many patients, as we can usually complete the full process in one or two sessions.
As part of your in-office whitening treatment, your dentist will begin by putting a rubber shield on top of your gums to guard them against the whitening solution.
Then, with a small brush-like applicator they will apply the bleaching solution to your teeth. In order for the solution to work, it will sit on your teeth for approximetly15 minutes beneath a low-heat lamp. Your hygienist will then clear the solution and repeat the application process.
On average the process takes about 1 to 2 hours to complete. Some patients may only require one session, however, you might need more treatments to get the whitening effect you want, depending on your individual case.
Professional Teeth Whitening At Home
Search “how to whiten teeth” online and you’ll discover a variety of at-home teeth whitening options. While they may be one option, they typically aren't as effective or strong as the take-home whitening kits we offer at our Oakville dental office.
The teeth whitening solutions we have available contain custom whitening trays and detailed instructions on how you can whiten your teeth from the comfort of your own home. In addition to this, your dentist will be supervising the process, and the costs of your teeth whitening might be a little less than with the in-office solution.
To begin, you’ll first need to visit the dentist so an impression of your teeth can be taken in order to create custom whitening trays to fit your smile. You’ll use these trays at home to apply the whitening solution yourself.
Once your trays are ready, you will return to the dentist’s office to confirm they are a good fit. Next, you’ll be sent home with the trays, the whitening solution, and clear instructions from your dentist.
At home, you’ll wear the trays for about 30 minutes every day for approximately 2 weeks, until you achieve the desired level of whiteness. Then, you can use the whitening solution to touch up your smile every 6 months or so.