Keeping your teeth looking great is not just about the cleaning process. It also involves the types of products you use. The ideal color that everyone can agree on is a good-looking set of white teeth. However, it is all too common for teeth to lose their color and fade over time due to surface stains.
These problems can be caused by all sorts of things including regular use of drinking coffee, red wine, and any other food that can leave behind deeper stains than what your toothbrush can handle.
Thankfully, such a situation can be remedied easily by a process called teeth whitening. In this article, we will be sharing with you all the details that you may need to know about this procedure so you can have an excellent experience when getting professional
teeth whitening done.
Addressing the Falsehoods About Teeth Whitening Services
If you are someone who got told that someone you know or have heard of got teeth whitening done and ended up with bad-looking teeth, chances are that the story is exaggerated or simply untrue. At least, that would be the case for any professional teeth whitening service where certified and qualified dentists work.
However, one thing that you might hear often is that the treatment can be quite painful and it is best to avoid it. However, those are almost entirely for people who have sensitive teeth.
The recommendation for such people is to switch to a toothpaste like Sensodyne for at least a couple of months regularly to tone down the sensitivity. They will automatically feel the difference in their level of sensitivity, too and at that point, it should be OK to go ahead with the treatment.
Another important factor here is to have a dentist that is supportive and can help you through the process by answering all your questions and providing recommendations. Our choice of dentist has to be Studio Smiles NYC for anyone in New York, as they provide the best service and are highly experienced.
What Exactly Happens in a Teeth Whitening Treatment?
If you have ever used bleach during makeup, then you should already have an idea of what tooth whitening is all about. It basically uses a safe bleach called carbamide peroxide to remove any stains that you may have on your tooth enamel.
This bleach is basically a derivative of the commonly known hydrogen peroxide bleach. This is followed by laser teeth whitening which means that once the bleach is applied, the dentist applies a strong light source for deep and thorough penetration.
Once the bleach goes through the tooth enamel and reaches the inner dentin layer, the stains come in direct contact with it. This is where the molecular breakdown starts happening that releases all the stains to whiten teeth properly.
Difference Between Home Treatment and Professional Teeth Whitening
One thing that should be obvious is that this treatment is nothing like what you may do by yourself at home. You can find plenty of at-home teeth whitening options like activated charcoal and whitening toothpaste products to use by yourself. However, the results that you can get from proper in-office whitening can far exceed anything that you may do by yourself at home.
This primarily has to do with the type of products that are being used. Not only is the bleach much more effective than whatever you may have in your teeth whitening gel or toothpaste, but the addition of laser teeth whitening also makes the process much more effective.
The light basically activates the bleach much faster which makes the procedure both safer and more effective.
How Does Laser Teeth Whitening Work?
The laser light being used alongside carbamide peroxide is a key factor in the procedure’s effectiveness. It acts as an activating agent which allows the bleach to do its work much faster.
You can think of it as getting the same speed of results that you would get from hydrogen peroxide but without the intensity, it comes with.
Using a laser is also important because it is a highly focused beam and controlled beam which ensures that there is no burning on your teeth from its intensity while making the tooth whitening process a lot more effective.
Of course, this is only possible through in-office whitening treatments since you cannot have a laser set up at your home just to do the procedure. Doing it by yourself would not be possible either which makes it clear that choosing an in-office treatment is your only option.
Factors Affecting Whitening Treatment Results
Of course, once you go through the process of getting your teeth bleached, you would want to see the progress that lasts. While you can the look you get after getting your teeth whitened can last quite a long time, it is still highly dependent on multiple external factors.
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Different Bleach Power Levels
First of all, the products that were used during your teeth whitening procedure matter the most. They will determine how well did the cleaning job go. The power of the bleach plays a key role here. The stronger the bleach is, the more whitening it will result in.
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Isolated Time Given to Bleach on Teeth
As for the retention of the tooth whitening results, the amount of time your teeth are left alone after applying bleach also matters. The longer you leave it on without any kind of intervention, the more effective it will be in the long run.
Of course, the process also has an upper limit and you cannot just leave the bleach left on for too long. A lot of people who want to do at-home teeth whitening using products like whitening gel can make the mistake of leaving it on for too long and end up with abnormally white-looking teeth.
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Expertise of the Dental Office Staff
Last but certainly not least is the fact that the dental office you choose for your dental work should be qualified to perform the treatment. Not choosing a good dentist can lead to potential problems which you do not want to face.
The easiest way is to opt for a dentist that has good reviews or if it is someone you actually know about from a personal reference. Even in the latter case, you need to be sure about their confidence and experience level.
For anyone living in New York, Studio Smiles NYC is an easy option in that regard. Not only are their
cosmetic dentistry services top-notch, but they have had countless clients come in and get their teeth whitened successfully and without any problems.
How Long Do Professional Teeth Whitening Service Take?
Generally speaking, good professional whitening treatments only take about an hour or so at most dental practices. This can vary slightly based on the amount of surface stains present and also how deep the stains are.
Typically, you would go through about three rounds of carbamide peroxide applications to ensure that all the staining is completely removed. However, if the staining is too deep or widespread, then you may be in for an additional cycle as well.
Each cycle lasts about 15 minutes approximately and with the breaks and buffer time added to it, you should be free in about an hour’s time. Add to that the waiting time in the office and you can get your teeth whitened in about 90 minutes max.
How Long Do Professional Whitening Treatment Results Last?
While we would all love to get professional treatment that can last forever, that is unfortunately not the case. You are bound to use your teeth every day and that means new stains would eventually develop over time. Of course, this is a lot more true for people who are frequently drinking coffee or red wine.
Statistics show that the results vary a lot and each patient is unique in several ways. This all comes from the fact that we have different habits, both in terms of at-home dental care and food consumption habits.
Good quality teeth whitening services should help you get at least four months of great-looking teeth as long as you can keep up with your routine dental hygiene. For some people, this can also last as long as a year.
How Often Can You Get the Treatment?
You might be thinking that each treatment should come after the effects of the previous treatment have faded away. However, that is not the recommended way of getting your teeth whitened. The recommended interval between each in-office whitening for a whiter smile should not be less than a year.
Of course, you can continue to use home treatments all the same, like whitening gel and even custom whitening trays. That, too, should be done in moderation with your dentist’s advice because if not done in moderation, you would be running the risk of drying out the enamel on your teeth.
What Foods Should You Avoid After Your Appointment
Once your tooth surface is clean and you have regained a whiter smile, you need to take good care of your teeth. One way of doing that is by not eating foods that are damaging to your teeth in any way, especially in terms of forming stains.
A general rule of thumb is that if the food can create a stain on white clothes, then it can stain your teeth too. Things like coffee, tea, berries, and sauces should be avoided or kept to a minimum. Also, avoid things like sticky candy and carb-heavy meals like bread and pasta as they can stick to your teeth.
Treatment Cost
There is no fixed figure that you can get when it comes to whitening your discolored teeth. Depending on the area you are in, the experience and location of the dentist, and the level of treatment required, your expense can vary a lot. The best thing to do is to talk to the dentist directly and get an accurate quote after a consultation.
Summing Up
As you can see, the entire process involved in regaining a white smile is extremely simple. Choosing the right dentist to whiten your discolored teeth is the only thing you should concern yourself with. For New York residents,
Studio Smiles NYC is a highly recommended option.
They have great experience and service, take online bookings, and provide a complete suite of dental services. You can also get in touch with them over the phone during their designated office hours.
