Clean white teeth are a symbol of good health and vitality. Teeth whitening is a common concern among dental patients. As teeth age they get worn down and dingy looking. Eating certain foods and smoking can stain teeth causing them look dirty. Teeth also simply lose their luster over time and become dull and yellowed. Professional teeth whitening can help restore a beautiful smile and make your mouth sparkle.
While there are many teeth whitening products on the market none of them can compare with professional teeth whitening. There are many benefits to having your teeth whitened at the dentist's office. Professional teeth bleaching is done in the dentist's office using products with a strong concentration of peroxide. The dentist will take an impression of the teeth to create a custom molded tray to be used in the bleaching process. Treatments take between a half hour to an hour and are repeated until the teeth are whitened to the appropriate color. This may take several visits. The results are much better and longer lasting than simply using whitening products at home.
Laser teeth whitening is another process that is used at the dentist's office. Also called power whitening the whitening product is painted onto the teeth. Then a laser is used to activate the substance and complete the bleaching process. The procedure is very effective in lightening teeth quickly. While generally slightly more expensive than bleaching the process works more quickly and often only one visit is necessary.
Another form of professional teeth whitening is internal bleaching. Done on root treated teeth (those that have previously had root canals) the dentist drills into the tooth to place a whitening agent inside. The whitening agent is removed in about a week once the tooth has reached the proper color. Keep in mind that false teeth, crowns, and veneers cannot be whitened using these same techniques.
