What is Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental procedure to lighten the color of your teeth using peroxide-based bleaching agents. As the active ingredient breaks down, oxygen acts on the tooth enamel, creating a whitening effect.
What are the different options for teeth whitening?
It can be difficult to choose from all the options out there, each with its pros and cons.
In-office teeth whitening
The most effective teeth whitening procedures are performed by your dentist in the office. This is because the bleaching agents in the gel are much more powerful and produce much more effective results than over-the-counter products.
The procedure takes about an hour. Your dentist will use a concentrated whitening solution to remove stains from the surface of your teeth and lighten their natural color.
Professional home teeth whitening trays
This take-out option is supervised by the dentist. During a first visit, dental impressions will be made in order to design personalized whitening trays.
You leave with the whitening trays at home and manage the application of the gel yourself. You will wear the whitening gel for 30 minutes to a few hours a day, for 1 to 3 weeks as prescribed by your dentist.
The whitening solution will remove surface stains and lighten the color of your teeth.
Toothpastes
Whitening toothpastes remove surface stains and lightly whiten teeth. However, whitening toothpastes will not be able to lighten stains that have penetrated below the surface of the tooth.
Some toothpastes are meant to protect and strengthen tooth enamel, making your teeth more resistant to cavities and other damage. These toothpastes can therefore help prevent stains from developing.
Whitening strips
These small plastic strips are coated with a peroxide-based gel. When you apply the strip to your teeth, the peroxide coating removes surface stains, brightening the color of your teeth.
The whitening strips are to be applied daily for a period of 2-3 weeks, no more than 30 minutes at a time. Because these products only contain a small amount of peroxide, you will usually only see subtle results.
Porcelain veneers
Porcelain veneers are thin porcelain films that are placed on the front of your teeth to change their color, shape and symmetry.
If only one or a few of your teeth are discolored, porcelain veneers can be a practical solution to even out the color of your teeth.
How do I know which are the best teeth whitening products?
The best teeth whitening products will depend on a number of factors, your preferences, how much time you have in your schedule, and your budget.
At Clinique Dentaire WM Dorval we can help you find the best whitening product for your needs. You can call us at 514-631-3811 to speak to one of our professionals.
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