Professional Teeth Whitening – General Cosmetic Dentistry Information

A white smile is the number one item on a lot of priority lists these days. Is it any wonder when one of the first things people notice about you is your smile? And since professional teeth whitening has become so readily available, why would anyone want to give less than a stellar first impression?

But before you delve into the variations of products and services available, it's important to understand some terminology and general procedures to make informed decisions about what will best meet your needs.

First, the terms "bleaching" and "whitening" are often interchanged. In fact "whitening" is a bleaching process where the teeth are typically whitened to a level lighter than their natural (non-stained) color. Products such as hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide are most commonly used. However, since "whitening" sounds less abrasive than "bleaching," it has become main stream to refer to bleaching processes as "whitening."

Also, the difference between the efficacies of hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide needs to be considered. In-office procedures which are fast acting use hydrogen peroxide in strengths ranging in percentage up to 40 percent. Conversely, at-home products utilize carbamide peroxide which typically contain about a third of the strength level of in-office procedures.

With that said, it doesn't take a chemist to determine that in-office teeth whitening procedures are not only quicker in their efficacy, but they are performed under the guidance of a professional should any side effects, such as gum irritation, present themselves.

As with any cosmetic dentistry procedure, it's critical to have realistic expectations, and these expectations should be openly discussed with your cosmetic dentist prior to the procedure. A general rule of thumb for naturally looking teeth is that a person's teeth should only be slightly whiter than the whites of their eyes.

When whitened (or bleached) professionally, either through laser treatment or trays, the results can last up to three years, especially if maintained with the use of a whitening toothpaste.

If a longer lasting effect is desired, or in the case of severely stained teeth that might not benefit from surface treatment, porcelain veneers or crowns can be considered as an option.