Today’s beauty standards demand brighter and whiter teeth. This is why more and more people opt for teeth-whitening treatment.
Over time, your teeth can become stained for many reasons. Coffee, tea, and red wine are common sources of tooth stains due to their colour pigments attached to tooth enamel. Smoking, tooth decay, and trauma can also cause your teeth to change colour. This is because dentin, a darker layer under the enamel, is more visible as it gets thicker due to enamel weathering. Some medications can also have a tooth-darkening side effect.
However, teeth bleaching, whether the solutions are hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, breaks stains into smaller pieces. This makes the colour less concentrated, and your teeth look brighter.
This procedure is effective, affordable, and safe. Compared to over-the-counter procedures, our dentist in Yaletown’s whitening products are significantly stronger since they are designed to maximize contact with your teeth. They can’t make your teeth white as snow, but they lighten the colour of your teeth by several shades. Following a thorough check-up and cleaning at our dental office near you can be life-changing.
What Options Are Available to Me?
Different whitening approaches must be undertaken depending on the causes behind the stained teeth, the time involved, the results expected, and your budget.
1. In-chair whitening with immediate results
Laser whitening or power whitening involves using high-strength peroxide on the teeth. This product is activated by shining a special light. This procedure is about two hours long and involves 3 sessions of 15 to 20 minutes of whitening per session. It is ideal for patients with an impending event who require fast results. Results are enhanced and maintained through at-home whitening or successive whitening sessions.
2. At-home whitening: A 10-day treatment
Undertaking at-home bleaching is a process. It can be done with custom-fitted bleaching trays made by our dentist in Yaletown, who will mould upper and lower teeth.
Once these are ready, you must wear your trays daily or nightly. Our dentist will also provide a whitening gel to apply to the trays before putting them on. The duration of wear can range from one hour per day to the entire night over a few weeks.
Since the control of whitening is in your hands, you get to choose how “white” your teeth become and tailor the whitening procedure to your comfort.
Teeth whitening in Yaletown is only authorized for oral care professionals. It is illegal to acquire this type of treatment when offered by individuals who aren’t qualified. Home and beauty salon kits for teeth whitening can carry risks. This is because they might not contain enough whitening products to be effective, or the tray provided may not fit properly. This can cause blistering and sensitivity in the gum tissue and mouth.
Don’t be afraid to ask our dentist all your questions about the whitening treatment options available to you. There are no silly questions, especially if you feel anxious about any risks.
Teeth bleaching treatment comes with a chance that your gums will be sensitive to the chemicals used. Ask our dentist if whitening is right for you since it might not be suitable, for example, if you have gum disease or restorations like veneers, crowns, or fillings.
After teeth whitening, whether at home or by our dentist, you can help maintain that bright smile by brushing, flossing, rising daily, and avoiding acidic and tannin-rich foods and beverages such as black tea, coffee, wine, dark soft drinks, and sauces.