The American Dental Association reminds us that dental hygiene is essential to you having a healthy white smile. While tooth whitening may be something that you are wanting to improve your looks and your self-confidence, even if you gain all that you are looking for, this doesn’t mean that you are enjoying optimum dental health.

One of the first things that you should do when considering teeth whitening is to visit your dentist – not only to ask about this procedure and find out if you’re a suitable candidate but also to assess whether your oral health is good enough to allow you to have this procedure done.

Why would I get teeth whitening from my dentist instead of doing it myself at home?

Your dentist is a highly trained professional who is able to assess your teeth from both a cosmetic as well as from a medical perspective. In addition, because they are a trained professional, they are able to use products that are far stronger and methods that are more effective than you are able to use in the comfort of your own home.

One of the big differences between the do it yourself whitening kits and a professional whitening in a dental office is the potency of the product used. The active ingredient of carbamide or hydrogen peroxide (depending on the product used) is usually allowed in a higher concentration in the professional product. In addition, your dentist will also likely use a professional light to hasten the procedure. This type of whitening is generally referred to as laser whitening and it takes literally just an hour. Other forms of whitening can take a lot longer and require several applications of the gel or other substance being used.

How effective is teeth whitening?

It’s not a given that you’ll end up with the brilliant white smile of a Hollywood star. Not all stains respond to the teeth whitening or bleaching process. However, most people do notice some difference. It may be small, just one or two shades lighter than before you began, or it might be up to eight shades lighter. Your best bet is to visit with your dentist and ask them for an assessment of how well the various treatments work in their experience and what they predict regarding how well it will work for you. They have dealt with hundreds, sometimes even thousands of cases so they will have a good idea and will be able to discuss this with a first-hand perspective. The big thing is to not expect miracles. If you really must have a white-as-snow smile and teeth whitening doesn’t do it for you, then you might want to consider veneers which can be of the shade you want. These are then fixed to the outer side of your visible teeth and allow you to correct not only the color but the general appearance of your teeth.

How is Teeth Bleaching different from Teeth Whitening?

The FDA says that bleaching will get your teeth to a much lighter shade than whitening. They say that whitening simply refers to the lightening of the current shade of your teeth to the original shade that they were before they became yellowed or stained. However, in most dental offices they offer the bleaching service under the banner of whitening. Most people are concerned about making their smile as white as it can possibly be, especially if they have never had very white teeth to begin with.

What products does a dentist use to whiten teeth during a professional treatment?

Most dentists use what is known as ‘laser’ whitening. This involves the application of a gel or substance containing carbamide or hydrogen peroxide. Carbamide becomes hydrogen peroxide when it is mixed with water, so essentially, the chemical that works on the tooth surface is hydrogen peroxide which is known as a bleaching agent. You probably have heard the term ‘peroxide’ in connection with the bleaching of hair to a shade of blonde. It works in a similar manner with teeth bleaching them to a lighter shade. In many instances, dentists use a product known as Zoom teeth whitening. Zoom Philips makes both a professional level product which is used by dental professionals as well as a home use product. They claim to be able to bleach teeth to a level of up to 8 shades lighter. Remember this is not a guarantee that your teeth will be 8 shades lighter after a Zoom treatment, it just means that they could be up to 8 shades lighter.

Do I have to pay for teeth whitening or can I claim from my insurance?

You will need to check this with your insurance company and with your dentist. For the most part, the procedure is not covered for the simple reason that teeth whitening is regarded as a cosmetic procedure rather than a medical necessity.

However, if there is some real medical reason why you need to have your teeth whitened you should approach your insurance company to find out if they are able to cover it. They will probably ask for proof that it is a medical necessity and this will have to be obtained from your dentist.

Cost of Teeth Whitening: This depends on the procedure, on the dentist or on the type of home kit you use. Obviously, a home kit will be cheaper initially than a professional treatment dental services in Abbotsford, but, it may not be cheaper in the long run. Because the home kits are not as powerful as the products used by your dentist, it is likely that you will require more than one, and sometime several. This cost can quickly add up.

Besides the cost factor in terms of purchasing the product, there’s the cost factor involved in the amount of time necessary for the treatment to be completed. Anything where several applications are necessary is going to take a lot longer than a laser whitening treatment which takes just on an hour or so.

Home Kits for Teeth Whitening: These days there are many options for home whitening kits. They come in strips of all types – some are easier to use than others. They also come in mouth guard type appliances which are filled with gel and worn over the teeth to protect the gel from being washed away. There are also whitening varieties of the most popular brands of toothpaste. Some are even specified for night or day use. The choice is yours and given that the prices vary considerably between these products, it’s easy to be confused about which will work best for you.