Teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic dental treatments on the market. Fast and safe, teeth whitening can improve your physical appearance and self-confidence in less than an hour. The only requirement for this treatment is that your teeth are in good health, with no cavities. During a whitening procedure, your teeth will be painted with a peroxide-based gel. This gel penetrates into the tooth structure to bleach away stains and discoloration without causing any damage to your teeth. To make the process faster, a special blue light is used to make the chemical reaction more efficient.
You will undergo three sessions of fifteen minutes each. During this time you can read, listen to music, or even take a nap. Most people will see an improvement of approximately 8 shades once their procedure is done.
Take-home trays are another whitening option. The whitening gel is placed in customized trays, similar to a retainer. You will either wear them overnight or for 15 minutes, twice a day, depending on the instructions from your dentist. Over the next two weeks, the color of your teeth will improve. Most people will see at least a 6-shade difference at the end of their treatment plan.
While the results of either method are permanent, teeth will naturally stain and discolor over time. To maintain your brighter, whiter teeth, you will need touch-up procedures in the future. If you have had cosmetic procedures in past, such as tooth-colored fillings, the color of these will not change, and may become more noticeable after your treatment.
