Professional teeth whitening treatments achieve excellent results, but are they worth the time and cost?

If you would like a healthy and beautiful smile, it’s likely that you have committed to proper oral hygiene habits like regular brushing and flossing. But even with an excellent routine that involves thorough cleaning, you may have noticed stains on the surface of your teeth. Unfortunately, there are a number of factors that can contribute to stains and discolouration — these include certain foods and drinks; the natural ageing process; and certain medications. The good news is that most surface stains can be addressed with a professional whitening treatment, but are these treatments really worth it? Read on to find out what the process involves, how a treatment could benefit your smile, and if you are a suitable candidate…

What types of whitening treatments are there?

When it comes to choosing a professional whitening treatment, there are two options: in-office whitening and custom at-home whitening trays. During an in-office treatment, your dentist will apply a special whitening formula to your teeth. A light will then be used to activate the bleaching agent.

If you prefer a take-home whitening kit, your dentist will fabricate customised trays for you based on an impression of your teeth. You will be provided with a bleaching agent to be placed in the trays and worn at home.

How does professional whitening differ to other options?

Although there are a wide variety of whitening treatments available over-the-counter, all of which contain some bleaching compounds, these products are not as effective as professional treatments. This is because professional treatments involve a much higher concentration of whitening gel than other products — this means that they achieve results much more quickly and effectively.

Professional whitening treatments also tend to be safer than over-the-counter alternatives. Before your treatment begins, your dentist will perform a thorough examination to ensure that your teeth and gums are healthy and that there are no underlying issues that need to be resolved. If your dentist identifies an oral health concern, they may recommend that you have it treated before you whiten your teeth. They will also determine the cause of your discolouration and confirm whether or not professional whitening is, in fact, the best option for you.

Your dentist will also ensure that your gums are protected throughout your treatment — this reduces the risk of tooth sensitivity, as well as irritation of the gums and other soft tissues of the mouth.

Who is suited to professional teeth whitening?

Most people who are in good general and oral health are well-suited to professional teeth whitening. As long as you are not struggling with an issue like gum sensitivity, receding gums or an underlying health problem, you are likely to be a suitable candidate for this popular cosmetic treatment.

It is important to note, however, that professional teeth whitening treatments are generally most effective when it comes to reducing yellow stains, rather than areas of brown or grey discolouration. Whitening treatments are also not suitable for lightening crowns or tooth-coloured fillings.

How can we help?

At Dream Smiles Specialist Centre, we offer a range of general and cosmetic dentistry services, including teeth whitening treatments. We offer both in-office and take-home whitening options, both of which lighten the shade of the teeth with the use of hydrogen peroxide. The in-office treatment usually takes around an hour and involves three 15-minute sessions — this option achieves instant results. The take-home version uses a less intense level of bleaching and usually takes around two weeks to achieve the desired results.

To find out more about the whitening treatments that we provide at Dream Smiles Specialist Centre, please have a look here.

To learn about the full range of treatments that we provide, please have a look here.

To book an appointment at Dream Smiles Specialist Centre, please contact us here or give us a call at 07 33441220.