Tooth discoloration is something everyone will experience in their lives. Teeth are discolored due to many factors, including the natural aging process. Because of this, teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic dentistry services we provide in our dentist office. Professional teeth whitening is the best way to treat stains and discoloration on your teeth.
Teeth Whitening Treatment in Tyler, TX
There are two different types of whitening you can receive. We’ll perform a cosmetic consultation, discuss your cosmetic goals, and observe your oral health to determine your best choice.
In-Office Whitening
We recommend in-office whitening to get quick results, like if you want a brighter smile for an upcoming event. At our office, you get teeth up to eight shades whiter in about an hour. The dentist first performs an oral examination to ensure your teeth are healthy enough for whitening. They’ll also want to ensure this is the best whitening solution for your needs.
We recommend getting a dental cleaning right before whitening treatment. This ensures that you get even coverage and that it isn’t splotchy due to buildup on your teeth. The dentist prepares your mouth for whitening treatment by protecting the gums so they don’t come into contact with the bleaching gel. It can cause sensitivity in your gums.
Then, we paint the bleaching gel onto your teeth, ensuring even coverage. A special light activates the gel’s bleaching agent to ignite the whitening process. We may do this multiple times throughout your appointment, depending on the results you want to get and how you react to the treatment.
At-Home Whitening Treatment
At-home treatment is a more gradual process. We take impressions of your teeth to make custom whitening trays. They’re filled with professional-grade whitening gel and fit your mouth precisely. You usually wear them for a few hours each night for several weeks. Depending on your cosmetic goals, we’ll help you design a custom treatment plan for how often you wear them. This method may also be used for touchups between in-office whitening treatments.
Custom whitening trays seal out saliva and prevent it from interfering with the whitening process. They also ensure that the whitening gel spreads evenly throughout your entire smile. As with in-office whitening, we monitor your progress and alter the timeline to ensure you get the desired results.
Professional Vs. Store-Bought Teeth Whitening
Professional whitening solutions may cost more but provide many benefits over drugstore whitening products. Many of these are considered one-size-fits-all, which can cause problems. They may be too big, touching your gums while whitening and causing pain and sensitivity. They also may not cover the entire surface area of your teeth properly. The results may be splotchy and uneven instead of consistent throughout your smile.
Dentists are the only people who get higher concentrations of whitening formulas. They can get better products than you can get over the counter. You’ll need to buy more products and expose yourself to more whitening agents to get the same level of whitening. You’re more likely to develop sensitivity because you’re whitening more frequently. Many professional-grade gels also have protection against sensitivity.
Schedule an Appointment
Get high-quality whitening treatment with noticeable results. Call us or schedule an appointment online to get started.