The Types of Teeth Whitening Procedures: Insights from a Harwood Heights Dentist
Unfortunately, not all teeth whitening procedures deliver the kind of results you might expect. Before you undergo a teeth whitening treatment, it’s important that you take some time to research the different teeth whitening procedures that are available, then discuss your options with your Harwood Heights dentist.
Why is this important, you might be wondering?
Well, the answer is simple: what works for other people may not actually work for your particular type of dental problem. In fact, your dentist might not recommend certain types of teeth whitening procedures depending on your situation. We are going to review the most effective teeth whitening procedures below.
Types of Teeth Whitening Procedures
The most effective teeth whitening procedures that you can have done are those that are done in a professional setting (i.e. a dental office). The at-home whitening kits that might be more affordable and more accessible are generally not as effective because of the low-grade peroxide that is used, and the common lack of discipline in applying the strips or gel on one’s teeth.
UV Whitening
Among the popular in-office procedures in Harwood Heights, the treatment using a peroxide-based whitening gel is the most affordable. It uses an ultraviolet lamp, rather than a laser light, to speed up the bleaching process.
The dental-grade whitening gel has the same percentage of peroxide as the one used during a laser treatment. The main difference here is that the bleaching process is milder on the enamel, which is not scorched from the UV rays or scratched by the acids created from the oxidation of peroxide. A layer of dental blocks protects the gums from exposure to the bleaching agent and the UV light. The chemical breakdown of the whitening gel produces only water and oxygen gas. The oxygen is absorbed into the enamel, and the water simply flows harmlessly through the teeth. In the end, it is the oxygen particles that act upon the stains to make your teeth appear whiter.
Laser Whitening
The laser teeth whitening treatments performed in dental offices use non-acidic gels, which contain Rhodamine B in place of hydrogen peroxide. This bleaching agent needs a green laser, rather than a blue one. At any rate, the non-acidity does not make it less effective than the more acidic peroxides. As a matter of fact, the lack of acids can be a good thing, because the enamel does not dry up, and the bleaching agent absorbs deeper into the teeth. This helps to remove internal stains in teeth caused by over exposure to stain-causing liquids or nicotine.
In the end, the teeth whitening procedure that your Harwood Heights dentist recommends hinges on a couple of factors, including your particular dental problem, your budget, and how sensitive your teeth are. For example, dentists typically recommend a UV-activated treatment only for surface stains on enamel and teeth discoloration caused by hardened plaque. In addition to that, dentists know that it may be difficult for their patients to stop smoking or drinking coffee all at once. As a result, your dentist may suggest using home whitening kits as a supplement to your professional treatment.
Are you interested in professional teeth whitening in Harwood Heights, Illinois?
Professional teeth whitening is a very effective process, and while it may not be able to remove severe stains with just one treatment, it is currently the fastest and safest method available to whiten your teeth. If you are interested in professional teeth whitening in Harwood Heights, Smile Innovations is here to help! Contact our dental office today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Ziols.