Teeth-Whitening Methods
Teeth-Whitening Methods – Want to make your stained, yellow teeth pearly white again? There are a variety of teeth-whitening methods to consider, from at-home remedies to treatments at your dentist’s office. Watch the video to learn more.
Expert: Richard B. Smith, DDS Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry, Specialized Dentistry of New York
Transcript
Amazingly white teeth are no longer just for the Brad Pitts and Megan Fox’s of the world. We can all have celeb-worthy smiles thanks to better quality at-home whitening products and the reduced costs of in-office procedures. But before you commit, let’s go over your options.
Professional in-office procedures are the QUICKEST, most effective, safest but MOST EXPENSIVE option. The average price ranges from five hundred to twelve hundred dollars for your full mouth, but the results last 1 to 3 years. Using a peroxide agent and a bright light or laser to speed up the whitening process, your dentist can significantly whiten your teeth in one visit. Multiple application of the breaching solution is usually required to achieve results.
Tooth whitening can also be PRESCRIBED by your dentist as an at-home treatment. A little cheaper at three to six hundred dollars, it includes custom-made mouthpieces (or trays) and a whitening gel. The fit of these custom trays is essential for the at-home process to work effectively and safely. Depending on the kit, and how much bleaching you want, you either wear it a few hours a day or overnight for a week or 2.
Warning, while ALL professional bleachings will whiten your NATURAL teeth, they WON”T lighten any existing dental work like caps, crowns, veneers or bonding.
A more wallet-friendly, but somewhat less effective whitening option is over-the-counter whitening strips, rinses or toothpaste. These contain the SAME or similar peroxide whitening ingredients that your dentist uses, but in a lower dose. At-home whiteners are good for minimizing stains caused by drinking coffee and tea, or smoking. Your brighter smile usually lasts a few months or up to a year with over-the-counter products, so you’ll need to repeat the process more often.
While whiter teeth always look nice, there ARE a few minor side effects. The hydrogen peroxide used can increase temperature sensitivity of the teeth, and OVERUSE of at-home products can actually wear away tooth enamel, also leading to increased sensitivity. The sensitivity is usually TEMPORARY, but talk to your dentist if it persists.
And, since at home products don’t use a custom-fitted delivery tray, there are often small portions of the teeth that may not bleach, leaving spotty results. Also, the gums can be injured or irritated by the bleaching products, especially when not contained by a well-fitted custom tray so talk to your dentist if you develop any soreness in your gums.
For more ways to keep your teeth gleaming, check out the rest of the videos in this series.
Last Modified: 2012-11-17
