Dental Whitening: At Home or Professional ?

So you want a whiter smile and are overwhelmed by the array of dental whitening products, procedures and technologies available to you. You want the safest method that will help you achieve your most naturally brilliant smile. Broken down into two basic groups, your choice is mostly straight forward. You can opt to have your teeth whitened by a professional, or you can do it at home.

Professional Dental Whitening To get a picture-perfect set of pearly whites, your cosmetic dentist will use the latest dental whitening technologies along with his or her trained expertise to brighten your smile.

For professional in-office dental whitening, usually a 30 - 40 percent hydrogen peroxide solution is applied to your teeth and activated by a high-intensity light or laser. Your gums will be covered to protect them from the potent gel. The bleaching process takes about 45 minutes in the dentist's chair and may require several appointments to achieve your desired whiteness.

Some patients have teeth that are too sensitive for dental whitening with lasers or other in-office methods. In this case your cosmetic dentist may recommend home dental whitening to you. Although this treatment is typically less expensive than an in-office bleaching, it requires you to exhibit more discipline. A visit to the dentist is still required for preparation of the thin, custom-molded plastic trays that will fit over your teeth. The trays are filled with solution ranging from 2 - 20 percent hydrogen peroxide and worn for 1 - 3 hours per day for several weeks.

Porcelain veneers are another option for people who are unsatisfied with the color of their tooth enamel. Veneers are very thin layers of porcelain that are bonded to your own teeth to correct misshaped or discolored teeth. Porcelain veneers can be costly, but they require minimum maintenance. Consult your cosmetic dentist to see if porcelain veneers are the best method to brighten your smile.

At Home Dental Whitening Although whitening toothpastes and at home dental whitening treatments are a growing trend, the results still do not hold a candle to dental whitening performed by a professional.

But, if you cannot squeeze in an appointment or you are craving a do-it-yourself project there are hundreds of products available that can help protect and brighten your smile. However, if you are going to tackle the task of dental whitening at home, there are several precautions you should take in order to ensure the safety and health of your only set of teeth.

1) Do your research. Some people are not candidates for dental whitening because of their oral health. Even if you are whitening at home, consult your dentist as to whether the procedure and products are safe for you.

2) Watch the whiteness. Like with any cosmetic procedure, dental whitening can easily escalate. If you opt to have your teeth whitened by a professional, he or she will analyze your skin tone and pigmentation to achieve optimum, natural looking results. If you have decided to whiten your teeth at home, you will not have the luxury of a trained eye. Be sure to keep a careful watch on your tooth color so as not to overdo it.

3) Do proper maintenance. A cosmetic dentist will develop a custom post - dental whitening maintenance plan for you. But even if you are executing dental whitening at home it is important to take proper steps to ensure your new, radiant smile stays brilliant for as long as possible. Steer clear of coffee, tea, wine and other staining foods during your treatment and for at least a week after your procedure. Whitening can actually make your teeth more susceptible to stains directly after your treatment. Smoking and poor oral hygiene will also contribute to tarnishing your dazzling smile.

by Dr. Mina