How does professional teeth whitening work

Like at-home whitening products, there are a variety of professional teeth whitening methods. In-office professional whitening is a quicker, albeit more costly way to lighten up your pearly whites.

Meanwhile, custom take-home trays fall somewhere between in-office professional whitening and an OTC whitener in terms of treatment time and cost.

In-office professional whitening treatments are typically completed in several short appointments but will depend on your unique needs. A whitening agent is left on for to minute increments, and the entire appointment should take no longer than an hour and a half. Halogen light and laser light increased teeth lightness more than hydrogen peroxide alone, according to a study in the Journal of Conservative Dentistry. However, some studies show no benefit from using a light tool such as a laser or lamp over a whitening gel alone.

Aside from effectiveness, is light exposure safe for your smile? The dehydration caused by teeth-whitening makes them look immediately bright right after your procedure.

While in-office whitening is fast, custom take-home trays require some diligence on the part of the patient. They may be your only treatment or a follow-up treatment to in-office whitening if your dentist believes your smile is prone to getting new stains again soon. With a professional take-home-tray, your dentist will make an impression of your teeth for a custom-fabricated tray.

Because this tray will fit perfectly to the shape of your mouth, it will typically give you more comprehensive whitening results than OTC trays. Your duration of treatment will also vary, from wearing your tray from two to 10 hours a day, and for up to 28 days. Over-the-counter trays come with a similar percentage of carbamide. The difference in quality is in regards to fit. A custom tray will fit directly around your teeth, giving little room for the gel to slip up to your gums or miss whitening hard-to-reach crevices.

While both at-home whitening and in-office whitening are effective under the supervision of your dentist, there are a few major differences. Custom, take-home-trays are more affordable than in-office whitening, but still more expensive than over-the-counter trays and other at-home whitening products. What about dental insurance? Each session is usually 60 to 90 minutes at most.

For ideal results, your dentist may recommend a custom-fit tray for touch-ups even after in-office whitening. No tooth whitening treatment lasts forever. But you still want to do everything you can to keep your pearly whites shining bright for months and years to come. Experts recommend continuing a rigorous oral care routine, cutting out bright colored foods, coffee, red wine and soda, and using over-the-counter touch-up products.

It can't make your teeth brilliant white, but it can lighten the existing colour by several shades. Teeth whitening is a form of dentistry and should only be carried out by a dentist or another regulated dental professional, such as a dental hygienist or dental therapist, on the prescription of a dentist. Some beauty salons offer teeth whitening, but this is illegal if there's no dental professional present, and it may put your oral health at risk.

If you have your teeth whitened you'll need to make several visits to the dental surgery over a couple of months. The dentist will take an impression of your teeth to make a mouthguard and tell you how to use it with a bleaching gel. Then, using your mouthguard at home, you regularly apply the gel for a specified period of time over 2 to 4 weeks. Some whitening gels can be left on for up to 8 hours at a time, which shortens the treatment period to 1 week.

Laser whitening, also known as power whitening, is another type of teeth whitening system that a dentist can provide. A bleaching product is painted onto your teeth and then a light or laser is shone on them to activate the whitening.

Laser whitening takes about an hour. Any dentist can whiten teeth as long as they're registered with the General Dental Council.

Registered dental therapists and dental hygienists can also carry out teeth whitening on the prescription of a dentist. To find out if a dental professional is registered with the GDC you can check the online register or call Only go to a registered dental professional for teeth whitening because whitening by people who aren't qualified, for example in beauty salons, is illegal.

Home kits also carry risks. In-office teeth whitening is not an altogether complicated procedure, but it does require skill to avoid injury to the gingival gum area. Moreover, expensive equipment may be needed to prepare and finish the procedure.

All told, the procedure can take anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes to complete. Upon completion, you would be advised to avoid foods or beverages with a high level of pigment for at least 24 hours.

These include coffee, tea, tomato sauce, tomato juice, yellow mustard, beets, black grapes, candies, and red wine. Smoking or tobacco of any sort would also be avoided.

As an alternative to the costlier, in-office procedure, many people are turning to professional at-home whitening kits. These do-it-yourself models can only be obtained from a dentist and require a dental impression in order to make custom-fitted trays dental cups contoured to your teeth. The trays take around one to two weeks to make on average. The procedure itself is performed for an hour a day over a two-week period. It is not all that difficult to do and provides far better results than most OTC drugstore brands.

While not inexpensive, an at-home kit may be the perfect choice if you can't afford professional treatments or are not fully covered by dental insurance. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.

Carey C. Tooth whitening: what we now know. J Evid Based Dent Pract. Teeth whitening is just part of all your dental needs, and a good relationship with your dentist is important.

Feeling good about your smile is the best reason to give it to someone. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Love the receptionists, especially Fay - so good with my two year old while I was having treatment she didn't want to leave!

Great job - very happy my teeth are no longer chipping each other and the braces also straightened a slightly twisted tooth in the process giving me a perfect smile. Thank you all! Barton London. It felt more like a spa treatment than a trip to the dentist! Highly recommended!

Fuller London. If anyone had a slight fear of Dentists you will be put at ease here. I had Invisalign treatment for a year and a half and couldn't be happier with the results. My dentist was so friendly and even took the trouble to iron out any little problems with my teeth. It's a friendly, welcoming and environment and I would totally recommend it! Wisker London. In 9 months my teeth are straight and I understood the process and commitment with Invisilign and why it was the best option for me personally.

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The Basics First Name. Last Name. Mobile Number. Next Cancel. Describe Your Teeth Have you worn braces or clear aligners in the past? Yes No. Which of these images best describes your teeth crowding?