A Step-by-Step Guide to Teeth Whitening at the Dentist

If your teeth are stained from too many cups of coffee or glasses of red wine, you may consider teeth whitening to restore their brightness. While plenty of over-the-counter whitening treatments are available, professional whitening could be a time-saving solution to get you the smile you want fast. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of teeth whitening at the dentist and how the treatment works.

Benefits of teeth whitening at the dentist vs. at home

While many people try at-home whitening solutions first, having whitening done at your local dentist’s office has several advantages, including:

• Time savings: Thanks to professional-grade whitening technology, you can lighten teeth up to eight shades in just one 90-minute dental visit. Compared to at-home solutions that can require you to wear strips or trays for 20+ minutes a day for weeks, taking a long lunch to have teeth brightened at your dentist is often easier to fit into a busy schedule.
• More vibrant results: While at-home kits can certainly provide results, professional gels and LED lights can create dramatic whitening results much faster. It may take weeks to see results with at-home kits compared to seeing the change in your smile after one trip to the dentist.

If you’re ready to learn more about the process, here’s a step-by-step guide for how to whiten teeth at the dentist.

1. Attend a consultation appointment.

At your first appointment, the dentist will assess the health of your teeth to determine if they can withstand the procedure. If you have a history of gum disease or tooth decay, the dentist may suggest waiting on whitening until these other issues are resolved. The dentist will also set fair expectations about what results you’ll see after teeth whitening and how many treatments you’ll need.

2. Have your teeth prepped for whitening.

If you’re deemed a good candidate for whitening, you’ll schedule another dental visit to perform the procedure. The first step is to prep your teeth, which may include taking photos to document the current shade, using retractors to pull back your lips and cheeks, and inserting a barrier along the gumline to protect it during the procedure.

3. Receive treatment.

Depending on the technology your dentist uses, they’ll apply a whitening solution as a gel or paste and set LED lights in front of the mouth to activate the gel. You’ll remain seated as the LED lights work their magic on the gel, often for 30 to 60 minutes.

4. Clean up your teeth and check the results.

Once the gel has been set for the specified period, the dentist will rinse your teeth and sometimes apply fluoride or other treatments to reduce sensitivity. Once you’re cleaned up, you’ll have an opportunity to check the results and work with your dentist to determine if more treatments are required.

Alternatives to teeth whitening at the dentist

If sitting under LED lights for an hour doesn’t sound like something you’re ready for, there are at-home treatments you can use to whiten teeth with the support of your dentist. Your dentist may recommend an at-home teeth whitening kit so you can easily apply whitening gel using comfortable trays and keep them in your mouth for a few hours a day on your own schedule. There are also commercial options, including whitening strips and toothpaste, that are less expensive but may show only a marginal difference in smile brightness over time.

The bottom line

A tooth whitening procedure at your local dentist is straightforward and noninvasive, and it can quickly provide dramatic whitening results. Contact your local dentist for more information to fully understand how whitening treatments work, as well as cost and financing options.

Contact Information:
Name: Sonakshi Murze
Email: [email protected]
Job Title: Manager