Know Before You Go: Professional Whitening

IF YOU’VE BEEN thinking about getting your teeth whitened lately, you probably have a lot of questions. Whether you’ve done over-the-counter whitening before or are completely new to whitening, we’re here with the answers!

Our In-House Whitening Options

• Opalescence Go 15% Hydrogen Peroxide at-home whitening
• Lumibrite 32% Carbamide Peroxide with custom trays at-home whitening
• Lumibrite 35% Hydrogen Peroxide Light Activated In-office whitening
• KOR Whitening System 34% Hydremide Peroxide (for Stubborn Staining) combination at-home/in-office solution

Why Professional Whitening?

Not all teeth whiteners are created equal. Teeth whiteners are available to the public in over-the-counter (OTC) strength and professional strength from the dental office. OTC teeth whiteners may work for some but not for others. Some may have sensitivity even with low concentration of peroxide, which is the active ingredient. With professional supervision, we can determine the whitening concentration and delivery system that is most appropriate for you. Although, teeth senstivity during and after whitening is unavoidable for some, we are able to handle and minimize this side effect with careful isolation of the teeth and application of even higher concentration of teeth whiteners not available with OTCs.

For example, some individuals may benefit with noticeable whitening with the use of OTC White Strips available only in 10% Hydrogen Peroxide concentration, while others may not have the same result. Most of the general public may be able to adapt the strips to their teeth without having to resort to a custom fabricated tray. This is why it costs less.

With crooked (uneven) or crowded teeth, the strips may not adhere evenly along the entire teeth surface to be whitened, resulting in uneven whitening. So with whitening strips, on size does not fit all. A custom delivery tray for the whitening agent is more appropriate and effective as it delivers the whitening gel more intimately to the enamel surface. With custom trays, a professionally dispensed higher concentration of peroxide may be used at home and control the delivery to selected teeth as needed. Since a dental impression of the upper and lower dental arches are needed to make the vacuum formed trays from the dental mold, this explains the added cost.

For stubborn staining such as tetracycline stains, even in-office whitening alone is not sufficient. A combination of in-office and at-home whitening will achieve the desired whitening previously impossible to achieve.

Lastly, with no supervision, there is always the potential for misuse or abuse. Too much of anything is not always good. That is why medications are always in lower concentrations when available over-the-counter compared with prescription strength.

As with anything, individual results vary. Ultimately, we get what we pay for.

Call To Schedule A Whitening Appointment Today!

If you still have questions about the whitening process, just give us a call, and we’ll be happy to give you more information so that you’ll be ready to get the whiter smile you’ve been dreaming of!

We can’t wait to see those dazzling pearly whites!