Professional vs. Home Teeth Whitening

There are a few options for achieving vibrant, white teeth. You can pick up an over-the-counter solution at the nearest store, or you can opt for a whitening treatment from a professional dentist. Southern California General & Cosmetic Dentistry, led by Dr. Ryan J. Fait, recommends that you seek professional attention for best results. Professional take-home or in-office treatments can transform your smile. Before you visit, here are all the facts. 

The benefits of professional whitening

Professional teeth whitening is a low-risk procedure designed to enhance the appearance of your teeth and give you a vibrant, white smile. Dr. Fait uses Zoom!®, an in-office bleaching treatment utilizing the most effective dental technology without causing harm to your gums. 

The best part about the in-office treatment is Dr. Fait can carefully monitor how your teeth react to the whitening product. This ensures you leave the office with an even finish. If you have misaligned teeth, Dr. Fait can work around them to get to the surface of every tooth. Best of all, professional whitening is designed to last longer than any other whitening treatment. 

The procedure

Professional teeth whitening is nothing to feel anxious about. It’s safe, and only takes about an hour. Dr. Fait begins by polishing your teeth to remove any plaque on the surface of your teeth. He places a gauze in your mouth to keep your teeth dry. Retractors may also be used to isolate your teeth from your cheeks, lips, and tongue. 

Next, he applies a whitening solution to your teeth. The bleaching agent in Zoom! is a gel containing hydrogen peroxide. Dr. Fait then applies a special light to activate the gel. This accelerates the bleaching process. 

In most cases, one session will get you the results you desire. After the procedure, Dr. Fait advises his patients to avoid food or drinks with high pigmentation for at least 24 hours. This includes wine, coffee, tea, beets, mustard, tomato juice, black grapes, and so on. 

The benefits of an at-home treatment

If you decide to undergo the at-home treatment, Dr. Fait recommends a professional at-home whitening kit. Over-the-counter options are available, but they’re not as effective as the kits you obtain from our office. Store-bought versions offer only varying degrees of success and are highly unpredictable. The bleaching agents they contain may be harmful to your gums. If your teeth are misaligned, these products will simply give you an uneven finish.

The professional take-home kit can achieve the same results as the in-office treatment. Dr. Fait creates a mold of your teeth so they fit perfectly into the whitening tray. The bleaching agent is the same as the one he would give you in his office, therefore reducing harm to your gums and ensuring the whitening product is strong enough to achieve the desired results. 

This option is best for patients who may not be covered by insurance, and are looking to reduce their cost. 

Using at-home teeth whitening kits

To obtain a teeth whitening kit, Dr. Fait makes impressions of your teeth. These impressions are used to create the custom plastic whitening tray you wear at home. The tray usually takes a couple of weeks to make, and the office will call you when it is ready to pick up. 

For the best results, you must wear the whitening tray every day for the next to weeks. Dr. Fait typically advises you to use the whitening tray for about an hour each day, or overnight. By following these instructions, you should see the results you want. 

Keep in mind that teeth whitening doesn’t usually work on crowns and veneers. 

If you’re seeking to whiten your teeth professionally, schedule a consultation with Southern California General & Cosmetic Dentistry. Call our office, or book an appointment online.