Modern living in front of a camera has placed so much emphasis on having the perfect smile and the demand for professional teeth whitening is constantly on the rise.
It is true that whiter teeth can make us look younger and more attractive, but it is also a well known fact that discolouration of the teeth is a natural part of the ageing process. That doesn’t stop millions of people seeking professional teeth whitening treatments to achieve the perfect smile.
How Effective Is Teeth Whitening?
If you have ever tried a whitening gel or whitening strips at home you may be sceptical about a professional treatment too. While there may be a lot of product on the shelf that claims to whiten teeth the over-the-counter products are just not strong enough to be effective.
Most whitening products contain either hydrogen peroxide or hydrogen carbamide but because patients are self-administering them, they cannot make the concentration very high.
Professional or in-chair teeth whitening is most effective because it is done in a professional environment by a professional. Your dentist will decide what concentration of bleaching agent is required to achieve your desired shade of white for your teeth.
How does teeth whitening work?
Some whitening systems use a laser or light to activate the molecules in the bleach and enable them to lift the stains from your dentin. The laser is also beneficial because it means your dentist can spend more time on the areas that are stained more heavily, to ensure you get an even and consistent end result.
How Long Does Professional Teeth Whitening Last?
After your treatment your dentist will give you a take-home kit to use every so often, to keep your smile at your desired shade of white. As you eat and drink after your whitening, and expose your teeth to different materials that stain, they will slowly return to their former colour. Your dentist will also recommend you make certain lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, and avoiding dark beverages that stain such as tea, coffee, red wine and cola.
How Much Does Professional Teeth Whitening Cost?
The cost of your teeth whitening will depend on the type of system that you choose, and the number of sessions required to achieve your desired shade of white. Each whitening session lasts for around 60 minutes, with only 15 minutes of that time spent with a bleaching agent on your teeth.
For many people one or two sessions is enough to achieve their desired result, while others may want to return for a brighter smile.
How Does Professional Teeth Whitening Compare With Other Whitening Methods?
A professional teeth whitening treatment provides you with a predictable out come in a specific time period, which makes it ideal for a special occasion. Most over the counter whitening products only work on surface stains and therefore cannot make a noticeable difference to the overall shade of your teeth.
Whitening strips may be partially effective on the flat part of your teeth but cannot reach all the contours of the sides of the teeth.
Whitening toothpastes typically contain abrasive substances and claim to give you a deep clean, but they cannot penetrate the surface of your teeth and also only work on surface stains.
The concentration of hydrogen peroxide contained in professional whitening treatments can penetrate the dentin of the teeth and improve their overall whiteness and attractiveness. While a professional treatment may be priced higher, you really do get what you pay for, and it does guarantee results where over-the-counter products do not.
Still have questions about professional teeth whitening? Contact our practice to speak to a professional: (02) 8503 9902.
