Teeth Whitening at a Dentist Office – What to Expect?
Teeth have always been one of the symbols of beauty, and that is one aspect that will continue to stay relevant. Our teeth not only serve as elements of beauty but have a strong function as well. As such, it makes sense that more people have the motivation and desire to keep their teeth vibrant and robust in Edmonton, Alberta, and other areas as well.
Indeed, white and perfectly aligned teeth are also a sign of healthy living, which is why so many people chase after this concept in Edmonton AB. However, in their chase for perfect teeth, they tend to damage their teeth even further. One of the worst ways they damage their teeth is by using unorthodox methods to whiten their teeth.
Teeth whitening is one of the oldest practices used to perfect teeth and provides confidence, but many misconceptions are present within this concept. That said, this guide will help to explain what teeth whitening is, options for whitening your teeth, and some side effects to whitening your teeth. You can also find out why professional teeth whitening in Edmonton genuinely matters in your pursuit of overall health.
About teeth whitening
As mentioned earlier, teeth whitening is one of the oldest tooth-correcting practices in civilization. Ancient people used several condiments consisting of several substances and rubbed on teeth to whiten them. Some of them are products we still use today, such as activated charcoal.
However, some of them are strange substances such as dung. We wouldn’t use the latter substance today because we have much more sophisticated, more professional ways of improving our teeth without any potential negative side effects.
That said, teeth whitening today is more straightforward than the practices our ancestors made. Now, many teeth-whitening options involve you using peroxide-based bleaching agents. You may think this is a dangerous practice, but provided peroxide is only applied in the right amounts, it can be relatively safe. If you have any questions in Edmonton AB, ensure to reach out to our professionals in Edmonton Alberta today.
Options for Whitening Your Teeth
As mentioned earlier, there are two options for whitening your teeth. Both of them are effective, but they work in different ways. They are: present below.
At Home
Whitening your teeth at home is the option many people tend to go for. However, it takes a bit longer to achieve results with the in-home treatment. This form of dental treatment regularly contains between 3% to 20% peroxide. This could either be carbamide or hydrogen peroxides. There are many in-home dental treatments, and some of the most prevalent are:
- Tooth whitening strips and gels
Teeth whitening strips and gels are arguably the most common w=form of ni-home treatments people use. It is commonly found in many stores around you, and they are available in many varieties.
This dental treatment is applied directly to your teeth with a dental strip or a gentle brush and then left to dry on the teeth. With gels and strips, you need to apply it once or twice a day, depending on how fast you want the results. You should start to see results within two weeks. The results last for up to four months depending on how well you treat it after, and the price of these strips and gels range from between $10 to $55.
- Tray-based teeth bleaching systems
For some people that don’t move around much, this seems like the best teeth whitening option. However, for many others, this tray may seem too problematic. If you want to use this form of teeth whitening product, a tray is fixed to your teeth for a few hours a day for up to a month. This tray commonly contains generous amounts of hydrogen peroxide, which could be in the form of gel or paste. They can be found in many pharmacies, or you can get one fixed by your dentist. They cost between $150 to $600.
- Tooth whitening toothpaste
You may have heard advertisements from several kinds of toothpaste talking about how effective their formulas are in treating the yellowing of the teeth. In all honesty, all kinds of toothpaste remove stains from teeth because they are mildly abrasive. However, they are explicitly designed to clean teeth. In contrast, whitening toothpaste is explicitly designed to whiten teeth, and naturally, it contains peroxides and other whitening agents.
Compared to other teeth whitening products, they are inexpensive. However, they don’t whiten teeth that much because they aren’t left on the teeth for long enough. You can find these kinds of toothpaste in many stores and pharmacies around you.
At the Dentist’s Office and Professional Teeth Whitening
This is the other way you can get your teeth whitened. It is more professional and less time-consuming. Since professionals will help you apply the peroxide, the bleaching solution can be in higher amounts and concentrations. They also combine the effects of temperature and light intensity to speed up the whitening process.
Your teeth would begin to get noticeably whiter within three to five 30-to-60 minute visits to your dentist. Typically, this procedure costs between $300 to $1000, depending on the plan you choose. So before you go to a random dentist that can mess up your teeth, even more, you must do your research. If not, you could end up with a lot more problems than you started with.
We would be pleased to provide you with a consultation and additional information at Edmonton Smiles. Our professional teeth whitening makes a difference because we focus on dental care and a whitening system. That means that our professionals are concerned about overall dental care as opposed to mere whitening. We find that regular cleanings, general dental hygiene, and systematic care in addition to a whitening system genuinely add value to our patients.
That is the primary difference between patients conducting teeth whitening by themselves at 4:00 pm or at another time that they choose and visiting our office. We provide professional teeth whitening for our patients at our office in addition to general care that can help preserve your teeth and health for a long time.
Side effect
Unfortunately, many people seem to think that adding a surplus of peroxide would hasten the situation. However, without professional application, that would only damage your teeth. That said, here are two side effects you can get from misapplying peroxide products.
Tooth sensitivity
Tooth sensitivity is when your teeth get affected a whole lot more by both cold and heat. This condition is more or less permanent. If you’ve ever felt a sharp pain when drinking something cold or hot, there’s a significant chance that your teeth have become more sensitive. In addition, a side effect of improper teeth whitening procedures can increase your tooth sensitivity.
Tooth dehydration
Many people don’t know this, but leaving the peroxide or any whitening product in particular on your teeth can cause your teeth to get dehydrated. If you leave this for longer than the recommended time, it will make your teeth whitening efforts futile.
Teeth Whitening at A Dentist Office in Edmonton Alberta
Teeth whitening is a widely misunderstood concept by many people. It would help if you had a lot of skill, precision, and patience to pull it off successfully. As mentioned above, some complications can arise if you don’t perform the process correctly.
Admittedly, trying to perform the teeth whitening procedure can be challenging. Luckily, you can reach out to professionals at Edmonton Smiles to ensure that you preserve the integrity of your teeth and health for years to come.
Thankfully, we adhere to covid 19 protocols so you can stay safe while we take care of your smile. Our patients appreciate the fact that we preserve their smiles for a long time while implementing the right procedure and process that would improve their lives.
Call us today to find out more about our solution and why our patients trust our dentists with dental services. From consultation or to schedule a visit or appointment with our dental professionals, reach out to us today. We are happy to help you with your cosmetic dental needs while also taking care of your overall oral care.