Teeth whitening is by far the most popular cosmetic dental procedure. Dental Whitening procedures fit within almost any budget and the results are quick. There is a difference between teeth whitening and teeth bleaching. Whitening means to brighten your teeth by polishing away stains caused by foods and beverages (berries, coffee, wine, tea, etc). This stain removal whitens teeth back to their natural white stage.

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Bleaching refers to lightening a tooth from the inside-out using peroxide. Bleaching brightens the inside (dentin) of the tooth, thereby making the whole natural tooth whiter.

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Who is a good candidate for teeth whitening or bleaching?

Almost everyone is a candidate for teeth whitening or teeth bleaching. However, some dark teeth are much more resistant to whitening procedures. Teeth that are discolored with dark gray or reddish shades are the most resistant to teeth whitening; an example of this type of dark shade appears in teeth affected by tetracycline. Still, even these dark teeth will whiten to some degree with long-term care. Depending on the results you desire, whitening may be an option for dark (gray/red) teeth. Otherwise, porcelain veneers are an excellent option, allowing you to choose how white your smile will be.

 

Teeth Whitening Systems Offered by DentArtistry

 

In-Office Whitening:

This uses a high-concentration hydrogen peroxide gel that absorbs quickly and thoroughly into the teeth, whitening teeth from the inside-out. For several years, this has been proven to be the most effective in-office dental whitening procedure available. At your whitening appointment, we’ll place protective barriers and coatings on your lips, cheeks, and gums so that the strong peroxide only contacts your teeth.

 

After two or three cycles of the peroxide gel, your teeth will get shades whiter in just one hour. It takes an average of 3 in-office dental whitening procedures to get your teeth to the whitest shade your teeth can attain. It does not work better than the trays or strips, it just works faster. This system is great for people who prefer to not wear trays or strips for an hour every day. We do it for you in our office, so you don’t have to do the work at home.

 

Custom Take-Home Trays

Whitening with custom trays is the system that has been most widely used over time. It is considered the gold standard for teeth whitening. We make models of your teeth and fabricate a clear plastic tray that fits perfectly. You are given syringes of whitening gel which goes in your trays. Then you wear your trays with the gel in them for 30 minutes to an hour. The peroxide gel enters your teeth and, though the same process as other professional whitening systems, whitens your teeth from the inside-out.

 

One of the benefits of having these trays is that when you run out of gel, you only need to purchase more gel syringes, not a whole new system. So, it’s great for touch-ups.