Commonly Asked Questions about Professional Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening products are a more than $2 billion a year industry. There are over the counter options, but those products do not provide the same results as professional teeth whitening. Below are some commonly asked questions about this cosmetic dentistry procedure.

Q: What are my options for professional teeth whitening?

A: You can either choose custom take home trays or laser whitening. Laser whitening is done in the office. A solution is applied to the teeth and then a special light is used to activate the solution.

Take home trays are custom fitted to your mouth. You will apply a solution to the trays and wear them each day, usually twice a day for about 30 minutes.

Both options provide impressive results, but the laser whitening brings the results much more quickly.

Q: Why is professional whitening better than using over the counter products?

A: While over the counter products work in a similar manner as some professional teeth whitening procedures, you will not get the same results. The main reason for the difference is that the peroxide gel that is sold over the counter is not of the same strength as what a cosmetic dentist can prescribe. You will get results, but they will not be as dramatic or come as quickly as with professional whitening.

Q: Is professional teeth whitening painful?

A: Most people experience only a small amount of discomfort during laser whitening procedures. Some people with sensitive teeth do find it to be a bit more painful. The dentist can stop the procedure at any time that the patient becomes too uncomfortable.

Q: I have some veneers. Am I still a good candidate for professional teeth whitening?

A: Because teeth whitening  procedures only works on natural teeth, people with veneers, crowns, or bonding may not be the candidates for professional teeth whitening. If you veneers are whiter than your natural teeth, you may be able to use whitening to help your natural teeth match your veneers.

Q: What kind of results can I expect?

A: Some people are truly amazed with the results that they can achieve. With laser whitening, you can achieve an improvement of up to 10 shades after just one treatment. With custom trays, you can achieve similar results, but it will take a few weeks of at home treatment.

For more information on professional teeth whitening and other cosmetic dentistry procedures such as porcelain veneers and dental implants, contact our Fairfax cosmetic dentistry office.