Professional Teeth Whitening - What you can expect
Professional teeth whitening is a popular procedure that many are choosing to have done these days. We all want a bright smile, right? Usually, individuals choose one of two methods in order to have this done. They decide if they want to go to a dentist’s office and have it done professionally, or purchase an over-the-counter product and do it themselves at home. Because of the dangers in some of the over-the-counter products, having professional teeth whitening done in your dentist’s office is the better way to go.
What can you expect when you go to have a professional teeth whitening at your dentist’s office? First, your dentist will probably do an evaluation and determine which treatment is going to be best for you. He will also want to be able to see how effective the treatment has been once it’s been performed, so he will try to match the current shade of your tooth to tabs that he has in his office.
Also, before you have a professional teeth whitening done, the dentist will want to be certain that all staining and tartar is removed so if it wasn’t already done, he will probably perform a cleaning and he will polish.
Next, when having a professional teeth whitening procedure performed, the dentist will want to try and isolate what is being bleached so he will place a dental dam in your mouth. This is usually a thin sheet of latex that holes are punched through and then it is slipped inside the mouth. This is to ensure that the bleach will not touch your gums because it can irritate or possibly damage the tissues. Because a laser is used to activate the bleach, he will also place a protective covering over your eyes as well.
The next step in a professional teeth whitening procedure is where the dentist will apply the bleaching gel. The bleaching gel is usually left on for about 60 to 90 minutes. Keep in mind that there’s always a possibility that you’ll experience some sensitivity when having a professional teeth whitening procedure performed. If you are uncomfortable, let your dentist know.
When the professional teeth whitening procedure is complete, the dentist will wash everything off and the dental dam or any other materials that were used are removed. He will again do another evaluation of the shades of the tooth to compare how effective the procedure was.
In some cases, the dentist may want to do a fluoride treatment after the procedure is complete because fluoride will help minimize any sensitivity that may be experienced, especially with hot and cold foods or beverages.
If a professional teeth whitening is something you’re thinking of having done, contact your dentist to make an appointment to sit down to discuss the procedure, ask questions, and see if it’s going to be right for you and your health.