Professional Teeth Whitening
A bright, white smile can significantly enhance your appearance and boost your self-confidence. Our professional teeth whitening services provide safe, effective, and dramatic results that surpass what's possible with over-the-counter products. Using professional-grade whitening agents and customized application techniques, we can help you achieve the luminous smile you've always wanted.
The Advantage of Professional Whitening
Professional teeth whitening offers numerous benefits over store-bought options:
- Superior whitening agents: Higher-concentration peroxide formulations only available to dental professionals
- Customized treatment: Tailored to your specific tooth shade and sensitivity level
- Even results: Professional application ensures uniform whitening across all visible teeth
- Gum protection: Specialized techniques and materials protect soft tissues during treatment
- Reduced sensitivity: Professional formulations and protocols minimize discomfort
- Faster results: Achieve dramatic whitening in less time
- Dentist supervision: Ensures safety and addresses any concerns immediately
- Long-term guidance: Professional advice on maintaining your results
Our Whitening Options
We offer two primary approaches to professional teeth whitening:
In-Office Whitening
Our in-office whitening procedure delivers the most dramatic results in the shortest time:
- Single appointment: Treatment typically takes 60-90 minutes
- Immediate results: Leave with teeth that are noticeably whiter
- Powerful whitening gel: Professional-strength agents activated with specialized light
- Gum protection: Careful isolation of teeth prevents irritation to soft tissues
- Controlled process: Continuous monitoring by our team ensures comfort and safety
- Multiple shades lighter: Often achieves results 5-8 shades whiter in one visit
This option is ideal for patients seeking immediate results, perhaps for an upcoming special event or photo opportunity.
Take-Home Professional Whitening Kits
Our custom take-home whitening systems provide convenient, effective whitening on your schedule:
- Custom-fitted trays: Created from impressions of your teeth for perfect fit and coverage
- Professional-strength gel: Stronger than over-the-counter products but gentler than in-office treatments
- Personalized instructions: Detailed guidance on application time and frequency
- Flexible usage: Whiten at your convenience
- Gradual results: Progressive whitening that can be as subtle or dramatic as you prefer
- Less sensitivity: Lower concentration formulas minimize discomfort
- Long-term maintenance: Ideal for touch-ups after in-office treatment
Many patients choose a combination approach—in-office whitening for initial dramatic results, followed by take-home trays for maintenance.
The Professional Whitening Process
For In-Office Whitening:
- Shade assessment: We document your starting tooth color to track improvement
- Preparation: Your teeth are cleaned and polished to remove surface stains
- Protection: A barrier is applied to protect your gums and soft tissues
- Application: Professional-strength whitening gel is carefully applied to teeth
- Activation: Specialized light may be used to enhance and accelerate the whitening process
- Rinse and repeat: The gel is removed and reapplied in intervals for maximum effectiveness
- Final assessment: We evaluate the results and provide maintenance recommendations
For Take-Home Whitening:
- Dental impressions: We take precise molds of your teeth
- Custom tray creation: Trays are fabricated to fit your teeth exactly
- Instruction: You receive detailed guidance on gel application and wearing time
- Treatment period: Typically 1-2 weeks of daily applications
- Follow-up: We assess your results and make any necessary adjustments
- Maintenance plan: Recommendations for keeping your smile bright
Understanding Tooth Discoloration
Different types of staining respond differently to whitening treatments:
Extrinsic Stains (Surface Stains)
- Caused by coffee, tea, red wine, tobacco, and certain foods
- Typically respond very well to professional whitening
- Often show improvement after a single treatment
Intrinsic Stains (Internal Stains)
- Result from medications (tetracycline), excessive fluoride exposure, or trauma
- May require multiple treatments or alternative approaches
- Improvement is possible but might be more gradual
Age-Related Discoloration
- Combination of extrinsic and intrinsic factors
- Thinning enamel revealing the yellowish dentin underneath
- Typically responds well to professional whitening
During your consultation, we'll assess your specific type of discoloration and set realistic expectations for the results you can achieve.
Safety and Comfort Considerations
Our professional whitening protocols prioritize your safety and comfort:
- Pre-treatment evaluation: We check for issues like decay or gum disease that should be addressed before whitening
- Sensitivity management: Desensitizing agents can be incorporated for patients with sensitive teeth
- Customized concentration: Whitening formulations tailored to your teeth's needs
- Careful monitoring: Regular assessment during in-office treatments
- Post-treatment care: Specific recommendations to minimize sensitivity
- Alternative options: For cases where traditional whitening isn't ideal
Maintaining Your Whiter Smile
After achieving your desired level of whiteness, these strategies help maintain your results:
- Good oral hygiene: Brush twice daily and floss regularly
- Regular dental cleanings: Professional cleanings remove surface stains
- Dietary awareness: Limit consumption of staining foods and beverages
- Rinsing habits: Rinse with water after consuming staining substances
- Touch-up treatments: Occasional use of your custom trays or periodic in-office treatments
- Whitening toothpaste: Use ADA-approved whitening toothpastes for daily maintenance
Most patients find that with proper maintenance, full whitening treatments are needed only once every 1-2 years, with occasional brief touch-ups in between.
Candidates for Professional Whitening
Professional teeth whitening is appropriate for most patients, but particularly ideal for those with:
- Extrinsic staining from food, beverages, or tobacco
- Yellowing teeth due to aging
- Previously white teeth that have dulled over time
- Special events coming up where they want to look their best
- Good overall dental health with no active decay or gum disease
Some situations may require alternative cosmetic approaches, such as veneers or bonding. These include teeth with:
- Internal discoloration due to trauma or certain medications
- Significant wear, chips, or structural issues
- Large fillings or restorations on front teeth
- Extremely sensitive teeth despite preventive measures
During your consultation, we'll determine if whitening is right for you or if another cosmetic solution might better address your concerns.
Investing in professional teeth whitening can provide a significant boost to your appearance and confidence. Contact our office today to schedule a whitening consultation and discover how much brighter your smile can be.
