You may have seen movie stars, or even your friends, get great results from teeth whitening - but how does this procedure actually work? Here, our Markham dentists shed light on how the teeth whitening process brightens your smile.
What is teeth whitening?
Our teeth naturally get darker as we age. This gradual change in colour can be a side effect of lifestyle factors such as drinking dark beverages like tea, coffee or alcohol, taking certain medications, smoking and general wear and tear from years of use.
Professional teeth whitening treatments use a peroxide-based bleaching agent to lighten the colour of your smile and reduce the appearance of stains on the surface of your teeth. As the peroxide in your whitening treatment breaks down, oxygen acts on tooth enamel and creates a 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.
During your in-office whitening treatment, the dentist will start by placing a rubber shield over your gums to protect them from the whitening solution.
Next, they will apply the bleaching solution to your teeth with a small brush-like applicator. This solution will be left to work on your teeth for 15 minutes under a low-heat lamp. Your hygienist will them clear the solution and repeat the application process.
This process usually takes approximately 1 to 2 hours. For some patients, one session may be enough, but depending on your specific case, you may require more treatments to achieve the whitening effect you had in mind.
Professional Teeth Whitening At Home
Look up “how to whiten teeth” online and you’ll soon find a wide range of at-home teeth whitening options. While these present one alternative, they are not quite as strong or as effective as the teeth whitening kits at our Markham dental office.
The teeth whitening solutions that we offer come with custom whitening trays and specific whitening instructions about how to whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home. On top of this, you will have your dentist supervise the process and your teeth whitening cost may be somewhat lesser than with in-office whitening treatments.
To begin, you’ll first need to visit the dentist so an impression of your teeth can be taken in order to create the 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 and prepared for you, you will return to your dentist's office to confirm that they are a good fit. Next, you will be sent home with the trays, the whitening solution and clear instructions from your dentist.
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.
