You’ve finally decided it’s time. No more furious brushing of your teeth. No more gulping down your coffee to keep it from hitting your teeth. No more smiling with your lips closed over your teeth to keep them from being visible.
You’re sick of the discoloration, and you’re going to whiten your teeth like the other 35 million Americans who use a teeth whitener each year.
The only problem? What’s the best way to get them whitened? Your choices include buying a kit at the store or going to your dentist. But some dentists offer both in-office and at-home whitening … how do you know which will work for you?
At Portrait Dental, teeth whitening is one of the procedures we do best, so we understand your dilemma. Here are a few tips on chairside teeth whitening vs home whitening.
Teeth whitening is often necessary because teeth tend to become discolored over time. This can be due to eating and drinking dark substances, such as berries, tomato sauce, wine, and coffee, which can stain your teeth. Smoking or tobacco use can cause brown stains.
The idea behind teeth whitening is to lift these stains with a whitening gel. At Portrait Dental, we use the Zoom! whitening systems for both in-office and at-home treatments, and both these systems use hydrogen peroxide as the active whitening agent.
As the hydrogen peroxide is broken down with the help of the Zoom! light, the oxygen molecules enter the enamel in your teeth to bleach the colored substances while not harming your teeth.
As mentioned, we offer two methods of teeth whitening: Zoom! Chairside Whitening and Zoom! Take-Home Whitening. The in-office procedure can lighten your teeth up to eight shades in just an hour. Dr. Minh Nguyen covers your gums and tongue with a rubber dam to protect them and then paints a special bleaching solution on each tooth.
When the solution has dried, he shines a laser on your teeth that triggers the bleaching reaction. He can repeat this process three or four times, depending on how white you want your teeth to be and how resistant the stains are.
With the take-home home procedure, we give you a gel to take home and apply to your teeth each night for three nights. A specialized mouthguard or tray helps hold the bleach in place for four to eight hours a night, depending on your whitening needs.
Both systems work well. The answer to which is better for you depends on your personal preferences. Some patients want the process to be over as quickly as possible, which means the in-office procedure. This method is slightly more powerful because Dr. Nguyen is experienced and can use a stronger gel than you’ll be able to use at home.
On the other hand, some patients prefer to undergo the process in the privacy of their own home over a few nights. The choice is yours, but we do suggest you avoid the whitening kits you can buy at the store. They may initially be cheaper, but they aren’t as powerful as the products our office offers, so you’re better off in the long run using the professional system.
If you’re ready to whiten your teeth, our team at Portrait Dental wants to give you the best smile you’ve ever had. Just call our Katy, Texas, office to schedule an appointment, or request your own time with our online booking tool.
