Everyone wants a dazzling, bright smile, and the quest for whiter teeth often leads individuals to try a number of dental bleaching products or treatments.
While at-home teeth whitening kits may work for some people with mild discoloration, professional whitening procedures are more effective and comfortable for those with extensive staining or sensitive teeth. Some benefits of having your teeth professionally whitened include:
- Customized treatment plans
- More dramatic results
- Longer-lasting results
- Quick treatment time
- Lower risk of irritation
- Can be more cost-efficient in the long run
Any attempts at teeth whitening should begin only after a professional teeth cleaning.
Understanding Professional In-Office Teeth Whitening
In-office or chairside teeth whitening typically involves the preparation of teeth and the application of professional-strength whitening gel to your teeth. In-office treatments contain higher concentrations of whitening agents such as hydrogen or carbamide peroxide to ensure more potent and efficient results.
This gel stays on your teeth for fifteen minutes or more before being removed and then reapplied up to four times to achieve the desired level of brightness.
Depending on the teeth whitening method used, light activation or laser systems may be used to maximize the efficacy of the bleaching agents with your eyes protected by special goggles.
Customizing Your Teeth Whitening Treatment
A qualified cosmetic dentist will first assess your oral health, the extent of staining, and your individual needs before creating a personalized treatment plan. As a professional, your dentist can best determine the whitening concentration or strength to use and the amount of time to leave it on your teeth.
Their ability to adjust the procedure and deliver the desired level of whitening while helping to prevent unnecessary post-treatment sensitivity leads to higher levels of patient satisfaction.
At-home methods offer one-size-fits-all solutions that lack the benefit of a professional evaluation, which can lead to uneven whitening results and tooth sensitivity, especially if your oral health needs attention.
Fast Teeth Whitening Results
Professional in-office teeth whitening delivers rapid results in a single session for instant brightening results.
Over-the-counter products contain lower concentrations of peroxide, which require consistent and prolonged application, with results appearing gradually over several weeks.
Stubborn Dental Stains and Deep Discoloration
While professional teeth whitening cannot whiten some permanently stained teeth, advanced in-office treatments can effectively tackle the majority of stubborn dental stains caused by highly pigmented foods and beverages, those caused by aging, and, in many cases, discoloration due to medication or illness.
While suitable for mild staining, at-home products may not be able to address deeper dental discoloration, limiting their effectiveness. These treatments may also result in inconsistent coverage due to poorly fitting trays or saliva contact, further compromising the efficiency of the whitening solution.
Longevity of Teeth Whitening Results
In-office teeth whitening treatments provide longer-lasting results due to the potent nature of the whitening agents used, while the outcome of at-home products may fade more quickly, requiring ongoing treatments to maintain the desired level of whiteness.
Teeth Whitening Safety and Sensitivity
Dental professionals can closely monitor the entire whitening process and adjust peroxide concentrations or treatment duration as needed to minimize sensitivity.
Without professional oversight, at-home whitening users may experience increased tooth sensitivity, potentially leading to discomfort and even damage to their gums.
Professional Teeth Whitening in Beverly Hills With a Cosmetic Dentistry Guru!
As a celebrity Beverly Hills dentist, Dr. Kevin Sands has been entrusted with some of the most widely seen smiles in the world. He uses ZOOM! to provide all his teeth-whitening patients with stunning, bright smiles.
ZOOM! Teeth Whitening is a highly effective in-office whitening system that offers dramatic results for teeth that are up to eight shades whiter!
Call Dr. Sands Beverly Hills dental office today at (310) 273-0111 to schedule your teeth whitening consultation!