In-chair or in-office teeth whitening treatment is performed by a dentist whilst you are sitting in the dental chair. This treatment uses strong hydrogen peroxide gel and often a light placed over the teeth. You should leave your dental appointment with whiter teeth.
In-Office Whitening
A high concentration hydrogen peroxide gel, which is applied by a syringe. A hydrogen peroxide combined with a high-intensity light, like LED, UV or halogen. The light is applied by a lamp or laser device that sits directly outside of your mouth.
Professional teeth whiteners are safe, effective, and done under the supervision of a dental professional. In most cases, it is worth the extra cost to visit the dentist to get long-lasting, safe results.
Because there is such a wide range of whitening options, the average teeth bleaching results can last anywhere from six months to three years. In most cases, however, people tend to have results that last about one year.
We all want a white brighter smile. But this begs the question “does teeth whitening damage the enamel?” The answer is no. While there may sometimes be side effects, whitening treatment is safe on tooth enamel. The process of tooth whitening is essentially the tooth will become dehydrated, meaning dried out.
Professional, in-office teeth whitening is the most expensive option with a national average of $650 per visit (pricing can vary between $500 to $1,000). However it does have the benefit of being performed by an experienced dental professional, helping to ensure that you get the sort of results you're looking for.
What Can Be Done to Whiten Yellow Teeth? If you're looking for a radical change in the coloring of your teeth, you need professional-grade whitening to get the job done. Your cosmetic dentist can provide treatment that penetrates deep into the enamel and removes years of stains with a powerful bleaching agent.
Most patients only require one teeth whitening treatment session, although it may involve several applications of the bleaching agent. For at-home whitening kits, the process may involve wearing the whitening trays for up to two weeks.
Professional teeth whitening performed in the dentist's office is recommended once every year to every 18 months, depending on how long the results last. At-home kits can be used as often as once every four to six months.
As with all walks of life, you generally pay for what you get and with a professional dentist, there should be no significant pain level. Teeth whitening is a non-invasive and non-surgical treatment but during the teeth whitening process itself you may feel minor discomfort.
Patients with the following conditions or circumstances may not be the best candidates: Pregnant and lactating women. People who have restorations such as fillings, implants, crowns and dental bridges. Children under 16 years of age.
Professional teeth whitening costs can vary, starting at around $250 for bleaching trays and getting as high as $650 for in-chair whitening procedures.
Longer-Lasting, Brighter Smile
One of the most significant advantages of getting your teeth whitened at the dentist is the treatment oversight before and during treatment to guarantee good results that you cannot get with at-home methods.
When it comes to teeth whitening, it is essential to understand that the amount of whitening necessary depends on the amount of stain on the teeth. Professional teeth whitening treatment typically takes three to four weeks.
However, tooth whitening is more effective the longer you leave each tray in. We recommend that you leave them in for a minimum of 6 hours, ideally for 8-10 hours (overnight if you can).
If teeth whitening does not work for you, it might be because of the product you are using, the type of tooth stains or spots, or strength of the bleaching gel. Product type – Whitening toothpaste does not remove deeply embedded stains.
For starters, teeth whitening is highly effective, however it only improves the color of your teeth and cannot remove all types of stains. Veneers on the other hand can correct the size, shape, color, alignment, and spacing of your teeth, however at the cost of making permanent enamel modifications.
Consuming Certain Foods and Drinks. “Certain foods that are high in tannins, such as red wine, are potential causes of yellow teeth,” notes Crest. Other teeth-staining foods include coffee, citrus fruits and juices, soft drinks, teas, berries, tomato-based sauces, curry, balsamic vinegar, and soy sauce.
Their Permanent Teeth Are Starting to Come in
If your child is about 6-7 years old and their permanent teeth have started to erupt, you may notice that their permanent teeth look quite a bit more yellow than their baby teeth.
Even with daily brushing, certain foods and drinks can cause stained teeth. For example, frequently drinking coffee, tea and wine can all lead to yellow teeth. In addition, even regular brushing cannot always combat yellow teeth caused by smoking cigarettes.
Compared with at-home treatments like whitening strips, laser teeth bleaching is more effective. However, it's more expensive and isn't covered by dental insurance. The procedure can also cause side effects like increased tooth sensitivity, erosion, and decay.
Since teeth whitening is a cosmetic procedure, it's not covered by Medicare.
How much do whitening trays cost? Generally, they cost between $150 and $600, depending on the dental healthcare services. Whitening trays can be custom fitted by your dental practitioner or purchased over the counter. It's all based on your preference and affordability.