Teeth Whitening

As the name implies, we perform in-office whitening treatments right in our office. During your appointment, the dentist applies a professional-grade whitening gel to the surface of your teeth. The gel is specially formulated to penetrate beneath the surface of your teeth to remove stains, brighten, and lighten. The entire office visit generally takes about 90 minutes, and you will see dramatic results immediately. Professional, in-office teeth whitening is fast, safe, and highly effective.

Tray bleaching is a type of professional whitening that uses custom-made trays and whitening gel that we provide you. In the comfort and convenience of your home, you place the whitening gel in trays that have been fabricated to fit perfectly over your teeth and wear them as directed by your dentist. Unlike strips, this process whitens all of your natural teeth, and the gel is specially formulated to provide maximum comfort and effectiveness. At-home professional tray whitening generally takes 10 to 14 days, although you may see results in as little as 3 to 5 days.

You can buy paint-on whiteners at most drug and grocery stores, and they are generally less expensive, but also less effective, than whitening strips or professional options. Paint-on teeth whiteners consist of a gel that you apply to your teeth using a small brush. The gel hardens into a film that coats your teeth and then dissolves in your mouth. As with any teeth whitening regimen, we highly recommend talking to your dentist before trying this option.

Over-the-counter teeth whitening strips are made out of flexible plastic (polyethylene) with a thin film of hydrogen peroxide on one side. Kits come with strips for the upper and lower teeth. You apply the whitening agent by placing the strips across your teeth and gently pressing them to ensure contact with all your teeth. You typically wear teeth whitening strips for 30 minutes a day, twice a day until you see the results you want.

Whitening toothpastes and mouthwashes are the least expensive teeth whitening option. These products remove surface stains using mild abrasives. However, unlike professional whitening treatments, toothpastes and mouthwashes do not penetrate the tooth enamel and can only affect surface stains, so your teeth will only be slightly lighter.

If you would like to learn more about teeth whitening, please contact our practice to schedule an appointment.