Professional Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dentistry practice for removing teeth stains and discolorations. Teeth whitening treatments, which can either be intrinsic or extrinsic, is determined by the cause of the teeth discoloration, which also can be intrinsic or extrinsic discoloration. Intrinsic discoloration is caused by internal factors and requires intrinsic teeth whitening service like teeth bleaching and professional teeth whitening. Extrinsic discoloration is caused by extrinsic factors and requires extrinsic teeth whitening service like using whitening toothpaste or gel.
Professional teeth whitening is one of the best teeth whitening service because it is supervised by a competent cosmetic dentist. Even if you have extrinsic teeth discoloration, you may still undergo a professional teeth whitening service.
Professional teeth whitening procedure is conducted under well-monitored and controlled conditions to ensure that the whitening procedure is safe and yield the desired result, unlike at-home whitening products.
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Teeth Whitening Cost
The professional teeth whitening service is one of the best and yields some of the best whitening result. However, it is also the most expensive method because it requires the use of special equipment, chemicals, and light in the dental office. Typically, teeth whitening cost is about $500 to $1000 per procedure. Teeth whitening cost is influenced by several factors, which include the location of the dental office, the type of whitening treatment, number of teeth to be whitened, among other factors.
Benefits of Professional Teeth Whitening
Professional teeth whitening is the safest teeth whitening service because it is handled by a professional cosmetic dentist. More so, it yields a faster result because it contains some active ingredients that are capable of eliminating both intrinsic and extrinsic discolorations. Finally, tooth sensitivity and gum irritations are better controlled under the professional teeth whitening procedure that the at-home whitening procedures.
Shortcomings of Professional Teeth Whitening
Despite its many benefits, professional teeth whitening procedure has its shortcomings. Some of these shortcomings include the following: professional teeth whitening cost is higher compared to the cost of at-home teeth whitening service; just like the at-home whitening treatment, the professional teeth whitening treatment does not yield a permanent whitening solution. Stains can get accumulated on the teeth over time after the whitening treatment if the whitening is not maintained by proper oral hygiene practices.
Stains and Discoloration That Are Best Removed By Professional Teeth Whitening Service
Professional teeth whitening procedure is ideal for both intrinsic and extrinsic dental stains and discolorations. An example of intrinsic discoloration is discoloration brought about by aging. As we grow older, the dentin in our tooth becomes darkened with a green, grey, yellow, or brown cast, which makes the teeth appear discolored. Intrinsic discoloration can also be caused by hereditary factors. These can all be removed by a competent dentist in the dental office.
Extrinsic discoloration is caused by eating habit and the consumption of certain food items like dark-colored foods and drinks, tea, coffee, red wine, etc. Smoking as well as using other tobacco products can give rise to extrinsic discoloration. All of these discolorations can be easily removed in the dental office. Consult your dentist today to have an idea of the teeth whitening dentist cost.
Stains and Discoloration That Are Resistant to Professional Teeth Whitening Procedure
Though the professional whitening procedure is effective for most intrinsic and extrinsic discoloration, some discolorations are resistant to professional teeth whitening and may not be properly removed by the procedure. Some of these resistant discolorations include discoloration caused by trauma, excessive use of whitening product, excessive exposure to fluoride, and excessive use of tetracycline, especially during tooth formation. In such a case, alternatives solutions like a dental crown, porcelain veneers, and dental bonding may be recommended.
Are You A Candidate for Professional Teeth Whitening Procedure?
Though very effective, the professional teeth whitening service may not be suitable for everyone. For instance, professional teeth whitening is not advisable for patients with a high level of tooth sensitivity and gum irritation. At-home whitening products with a low concentration of teeth bleach may be recommended.
Teeth Preparation for Professional Teeth Whitening
Your dentist must first prepare your teeth before starting the teeth whitening service. This includes a comprehensive dental examination to determine the exact cause of the discoloration, which may include dental decay, periodontal disease, and cracks. All these can cause irritation if teeth bleaching agent is applied. So, your dentist has to prepare your teeth, clean them, and fix any available problem before the professional whitening procedure.
Also, the dentist may take photographs of your teeth to use it as a benchmark to assess the whitening progress and to compare with the final whitening result.
Professional Teeth Whitening Procedure
Professional teeth whitening service is usually a non-invasive treatment. That means it is a non-painful procedure and you can either take a nap or watch a television program while the treatment is going on. A cheek retractor will be placed in your mouth to reveal your teeth, a rubber dam or resin would be placed on your gum to protect it against irritation.
After these precautions have been taken, your dentist would then apply a teeth bleaching gel to your teeth and allow it to stay for about 30 mins. The gel will be washed off and a new gel would be applied for another 30 minutes. Sometimes, a special light may be used by the dentist to activate and to boost the teeth bleaching process. As the dentist washes away a layer of bleaching gel and applies another, he or she would check the whitening progress against the photograph taken earlier to see if a notable change has been achieved.
The cheek retractor will be removed after the last bleaching gel has been applied and washed off. The dentist would then measure a post-treatment shade change, which usually varies from 2 out of 16 to 8 out of 16. If you are not satisfied with the whitening result, you may be admitted for professional follow-up dental treatments. You may also be asked to complement the whitening result with come certain at-home teeth whitening products. Are you planning on improving your natural smile by undergoing a professional teeth whitening service? Ask for a teeth whitening cost from our professional cosmetic dentists.