Teeth Whitening

What is Professional Teeth Whitening?

A professional teeth whitening treatment can improve the colour of your natural teeth, lifting it by several shades, often in as little as an hour. Dental Pearl uses the highest-quality, professional-strength hydrogen peroxide-based whitening products to remove stains deep within tooth enamel.

These products are applied topically to your tooth surfaces, where they soon penetrate the tooth enamel and help to remove stains, leaving the enamel looking brighter and whiter.

These products are far stronger than anything you can purchase over the counter. Most importantly, your treatment is supervised by dental professionals, so it is safe and provides optimal results quickly. We can help you achieve your most youthful and brightest smile.

What Causes Tooth Discoloration?

Tooth discoloration can be extrinsic, meaning it is external and affects your tooth enamel. Alternatively, some teeth discolor internally or intrinsically.

Extrinsic Tooth Staining

Most people find that their teeth begin to discolor over time. Often, this is due to tooth enamel erosion caused by exposure to acids in foods and beverages. These acids are also produced by bacteria in dental plaque.

Tooth enamel is relatively opaque, but as it thins, it gradually reveals the color of the dentin beneath. Dentin is darker, hence teeth begin to look discolored and dingy.

Consuming lots of highly colored foods and beverages can cause tooth discoloration. The colours in these foods can penetrate tooth enamel, staining and darkening it.

Another reason is smoking, as the nicotine found in tobacco products is well known for staining teeth.

Intrinsic Teeth Staining

The inner parts of a tooth can become stained if exposed to certain antibiotics while the tooth is still developing. Tooth discoloration can also occur because of an older root canal.

Intrinsic teeth staining requires a different whitening approach, as applying whitening products topically may not be effective. Instead, we would have to consider bleaching the tooth internally or otherwise covering it with a porcelain veneer to create a uniformly white smile.

Benefits of Professional Teeth Whitening

Professional teeth whitening provides some important benefits, including:

• Immediate and noticeable results.
• Treatment is entirely safe as a dentist supervises it.
• Reduced risk of tooth sensitivity.
• Longer-lasting brightness with the right aftercare.
• Natural-looking and evenly colored results.

Professional Teeth Whitening Options

You have two main options to whiten your teeth safely, which include:

1. In-office teeth whitening.
2. Custom take-home whitening kit.
3. Using both treatments.
4. Internal tooth bleaching.

1. In-Office Teeth Whitening

In-office teeth whitening is the best way to get results quickly. We use Zoom whitening because this professional whitening system is renowned for providing excellent results.

Treatment is very straightforward: your lips and gums are protected before your teeth are coated with professional-strength whitening gel. A light activates the gel, enhancing its ability to penetrate your tooth enamel more quickly and deeply.

We may choose to reapply the gel several times during your appointment to achieve optimal results. Treatment could take as little as an hour.

At the end of your appointment, you will see visible results: your teeth will be several shades brighter. You may notice that your teeth continue to brighten for a few days afterward.

2. Custom Take Home Whitening Kit

Another option is to use a custom whitening kit that includes whitening trays that fit tightly yet comfortably over your teeth. These trays are designed to prevent the whitening gel from leaking out.

Our cosmetic dentist will prescribe the right strength of carbamide peroxide whitening gel. This is a more stable form of hydrogen peroxide and, therefore, safe for home use. We will ensure you know how to use the trays and discuss how long you would like to leave them in each day. You might choose to leave them in overnight or use them for just a few hours daily.

Over two or more weeks, your teeth will gradually whiten, achieving results similar to those of an in-office treatment. A custom home whitening kit gives you more control over the whitening process, and can be useful if you have more sensitive teeth. Using a lower-strength carbamide peroxide whitening gel may feel more comfortable while still achieving excellent results.

3. Using Both Treatments

It’s not unusual for our patients to use both treatments: first whitening their teeth in our office and then continuing the process at home. It can be a nice approach because it means you will have the whitening trays ready for later, when you need to touch up the results, as we can prescribe more whitening gel when appropriate.

4. Internal Tooth Bleaching

If you have one or two internally discolored teeth, we may recommend bleaching them internally. This is a more technical process in which we make a small opening in the tooth so we can insert bleaching products that gently yet effectively whiten the tooth.

Understanding the Whitening Process

Teeth whitening is straightforward, and the following is a brief overview of what you can expect when you visit Dental Pearl.

1. Consultation and Dental Exam

We will need to complete a dental exam before recommending any teeth whitening treatment. This is to ensure your teeth and gums are healthy and strong enough to withstand the strong whitening gel.

Trying to whiten an unhealthy mouth could cause sensitivity or pain and may damage your teeth and oral tissues. We must make sure your whitening treatment is safe.

During this appointment, we can also assess why the teeth have stained and identify any that may have stained internally. Also, we can discuss the anticipated results.

It’s important to know that any dental restorations, such as crowns, bridges, or veneers, will not change colour. You may need to replace these restorations after whitening.

2. Professional Dental Cleaning

We recommend that you have a professional dental cleaning before any whitening treatment. Removing all plaque and tartar buildup helps the whitening gel penetrate your teeth more effectively, providing better results. Also, it’s a great way to maintain strong, healthy teeth and gums.

3. Teeth Whitening Treatment

Your teeth whitening treatment will be safe and comfortable. Before beginning, we check your current tooth shade and make a note for comparison afterward.

After placing protective barriers over your gums and lips, we apply the gel to your teeth and light-activate it. The process may be repeated several times to achieve an evenly whitened smile.

4. Shade Check and Aftercare Advice

The final stage is to check the new color of your teeth with you and provide helpful advice on how to look after your teeth while the enamel settles. Immediately after a teeth whitening treatment, the enamel is slightly more porous, which is why it’s important to avoid foods and beverages that could stain it. We can discuss which foods are safe for consumption during this time.

There may be some mild tooth sensitivity for a day or two afterward, but this should quickly disappear.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?

You may be a good candidate for teeth whitening if you have generally healthy teeth and gums, and your teeth have discolored due to surface stains, likely because of lifestyle habits or aging.

Treatment is less ideal for people with restorations or who have signs of active gum disease or tooth decay. Any dental problems must be treated before you can whiten comfortably and safely.

Maintaining the Results

Teeth whitening is not permanent, but the following tips can help the results last longer.

• Brush and floss regularly to get rid of plaque that can otherwise cause teeth to look discolored and stained.
• Try to avoid consuming too many highly colored foods and beverages.
• If you do have something dark colored to eat or drink, rinse your mouth with water to help remove loose food particles and reduce the impact on your tooth color.
• Avoid smoking.
• Schedule professional hygiene appointments every six months, as cleaning your teeth professionally gets rid of some surface stains and helps them to look brighter while protecting your dental health.
• Schedule whitening touch-ups as often as we recommend.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How White Can My Teeth Get?

This can depend on their natural color, and it’s unlikely that you will achieve a Hollywood white shade. Instead, your teeth will achieve a colour that complements your skin tone. If you are interested in the brightest, whitest teeth, porcelain veneers may be a better option.

2. Will Teeth Whitening Damage My Tooth Enamel?

A professional teeth whitening treatment will not damage your tooth enamel. However, damage can occur when teeth are whitened by someone who is not a dental professional, or when whitening products are overused. This approach will not achieve a whiter smile; instead, your teeth can become gray, lifeless, and dull.

3. How Much Will Teeth Whitening Cost?

It depends on whether you choose an in-office or home whitening kit, or both. Professional treatment is highly affordable, especially since you will achieve the best teeth whitening results.