When you make the choice to begin professional teeth whitening treatment then you may be wondering what you can expect during your visit. Our North Vancouver dentists discuss the teeth whitening process and how a teeth whitening shade guide can help when planning your treatment.
Professional Teeth Whitening
In general, as we get older and use our bodies for longer periods of time, we encounter changes, one of which can be in our teeth. Teeth can discolour and darken with time owing to general wear and tear or lifestyle factors such as smoking or drinking dark-coloured liquids such as soda, coffee, or red wine.
If you wish to brighten your teeth, there are several alternatives open to you. We'll go over how a teeth-whitening shade guide can help you choose the best hue for your smile in more detail below.
What to Expect During Your Teeth Whitening Consultation
To begin the teeth whitening process, your dentist will assess the shade of your smile using a shade guide.
Your dentist will compare your current tooth colour to the shade guide and then work from there to determine what shade you'd like your teeth to be after treatment. Here are some things you should think about when trying to decide on your whitening goals:
- Existing stains on your teeth - Stains that are darkly coloured or grey can be hard to remove. Whitening may make these stains seem more prominent.
- Crowns and fillings - Artificial restoration of any kind will not respond to whitening treatment. You will want to select a shade that will help these restorations blend in.
- Your eyes - Your teeth should be a similar shade of white to the whites of your eyes. This helps you maintain a natural-looking smile.
These tips will assist you in achieving a brighter, more natural-looking grin. Most teeth-whitening procedures can lighten your teeth by two to seven or eight shades, yet merely two or three shades can significantly improve the appearance of your smile.
As with most things, it's best to start small and work your way up, and by whitening a bit at first, you can gauge how you feel before jumping in and going brighter later.
Options For Professional Teeth Whitening
In most cases, hydrogen peroxide is the active ingredient in at-home teeth-whitening products. When oxygen interacts with tooth enamel and the active ingredient breaks down, the teeth whiten. Dental offices typically provide both in-office professional teeth-whitening procedures as well as take-home kits that allow you to whiten your teeth at your leisure.
Professional Teeth Whitening at Your Dental Office
Your dentist will do in-office tooth whitening. Because your dentist can safely apply a higher dosage of hydrogen peroxide than you can at home, in-office treatments are often the most efficient and successful.
Your dentist will place a shield over your gums to protect them from the whitening solution. A personalized mouthguard-like tray will next be used to apply the solution to your teeth. After applying the solution to the teeth, the dentist will use a special light to speed up the process.
Professional Teeth Whitening Kits to Use at Home
Many dental offices also provide take-home kits with thorough instructions so that you can safely continue the teeth-whitening treatment in the comfort of your own home.
Take-home kits include custom whitening trays that you will use to keep the whitening solution on your teeth. For two weeks, these trays are normally worn for a length of time each day.