While the goal of all teeth whitening procedures is to remove stains and lighten the appearance of your teeth, there are some key differences between professional teeth whitening and home teeth whitening. Our Surrey dentists explain in today’s post.
It’s probably no secret to you that our teeth naturally darken with age - maybe you’ve even seen the effects that time has had on your own teeth. Surface stains and dark spots can be magnified by smoking, taking certain medications and consuming dark beverages (think - that morning coffee or afternoon soft drink, tea).
Teeth whitening can remove these stains, and there are some key differences to cover between professional teeth whitening and at-home teeth whitening. If you’re trying to decide whether to head to your dentist’s office or take the do-it-yourself route to get the job done, we have some insight.
Professional vs. Home Teeth Whitening
Professional teeth whitening is a non-invasive method of lightening your teeth, and it can quickly help to restore that brilliant smile you remember with a strong level of whitening not found in pharmacy products
.Plus, it’s a popular option as it can be completed in one or two sessions at our office and offers uniform, predictable results that over-the-counter products cannot offer.
A teeth whitening session at our office takes about 2 hours to complete the process, depending on your specific needs, you may need to see your dentist again for additional treatments. Our team of dental professionals can work with you to create a custom treatment plan for your smile.
At-Home Teeth Whitening
An at-home teeth whitening kit allows you to whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home. Impressions of your teeth will be taken at our office so your whitening trays can be created. The trays should fit snugly and hold the whitening gel to the tooth surface.
Though instructions may differ between dentists, you will be provided with specific instructions for your whitening treatment, along with enough whitening gel to complete the initial treatment.
In most cases, patients wear their whitening trays for an hour to many hours per day for two weeks. Your treatment time will vary depending on the degree of staining and desired level of whitening.
Once you complete the whitening process, keep your trays for future touch-ups. “Before” and “after” shades will be recorded to compare your results to when you started.
Teeth whitening is an excellent option for people whose teeth have become discoloured over time, or those who have a naturally darker tooth colour.