A brilliant smile can dramatically elevate your confidence and overall well-being, leading to an improved standard of life. As a result, considering a teeth whitening process is a great step towards achieving your desired look. Thanks to how fast and easy teeth whitening procedures are, you can expect results within no time. In return, you can revamp your appearance to help you match whatever you have envisioned for yourself.
At Beach Dental Care Anaheim, we have an experienced dental team ready to cater to your needs professionally. We understand the significance of a teeth whitening process to you, and we do our best to ensure you receive high-quality results. Over the years, we have helped hundreds of patients in Anaheim, California, brighten their smiles, and we can do it for you too.
What Teeth Whitening Entails
A typical teeth whitening process involves cleaning the surface of your teeth using a special agent to improve the teeth' shade. Therefore, the goal is to brighten your teeth, especially if you suffer from staining.
Usually, a teeth whitening process requires your dentist to run several examinations to make appropriate arrangements for the treatment. Thus, you can expect to hold a meeting to discuss preliminary issues before heading into the dental office for treatment.
Additionally, as discussed further below, you should note that there is a difference between teeth whitening devices and the teeth whitening treatment you receive from your dentist. Nevertheless, both options are available for consideration, provided you have sufficient information on the whitening process.
Like any other dental process, you want to obtain as much information as possible from your dentist to ensure you fully understand the process. Doing so will help you learn any unique processes the team will undertake to cater to your needs.
Teeth Whitening At Home Versus at the Dentist
Medical and technological advancements have led to the development of at-home teeth whitening kits. The devices are widely available, and you can order one to begin your teeth brightening process.
Nevertheless, access to your teeth whitening device may only assure you of achieving your desired results, compared to working with the dentist. Here are a few reasons why you want to consider scheduling an appointment with your dentist over placing an online order for your teeth-whitening kit:
You Receive Treatment in a Well Monitored Environment
One of the many disadvantages of self-supervised teeth whitening processes is that many patients cannot regulate the exposure of their teeth to the bleaching agent and UV light used. Consequently, you may open up your teeth to conditions from too much exposure, which may persist for a long time.
For example, you may experience tooth sensitivity that you did not previously have or end up with white teeth beyond what is necessary for your aesthetics. In contrast, working with an experienced dentist means that they carefully monitor the procedure and provide the best treatment services available.
You Have a Chance to Accelerate Treatment
Typically, teeth whitening kits direct you to follow the process for an extended period that ranges up to months before any visible changes. On the other hand, working with your dentist can help you accelerate treatment and observe increased teeth brightness in no time.
Your dentist achieves this by selecting a more potent bleaching agent that delivers results sooner while ensuring your dental health remains intact. Subsequently, you do not have to worry about destroying your tooth enamel because the dental team will undertake the necessary checks before applying the agent.
You Avoid Gum Irritations
Gum sensitivity may become a problem during teeth whitening, especially if you expose the gums to unnecessary agents. Over time, sensitive gums may culminate into gum disease, requiring urgent dental interventions to deal with the issue.
By consulting your dentist and undergoing a teeth whitening process with a trusted team, you safeguard yourself from potential side effects that you may not have anticipated. Subsequently, you do not have to deal with subsequent treatment costs to cater to gum disease or other emerging conditions.
You Receive Aftercare Tips
Caring for your teeth after teeth whitening is just as necessary as the procedure because exposing your teeth to certain foods may stain them again. Thus, you are better off working with a dental team because they have the knowledge to guide you through the aftercare process.
Taking time to incorporate the tips you receive is critical for consistently bright teeth, so you want to take the tips you receive seriously. Your dentist is also available to answer your questions and conduct check-ups to help maintain your new teeth shade.
Patients Eligible for Teeth Whitening
If you are considering undergoing a teeth whitening procedure, but are unsure whether you are eligible, consider consulting your dentist. Generally, you can seek treatment if your teeth have moderate to severe discoloration.
Specifically, anyone with yellowish or brownish teeth coloration can request to undergo a teeth whitening process. For example, aging patients, persons with a smoking history, or anyone under medication that caused teeth staining can request teeth whitening. Similarly, the process is available for anyone recovering from a poor dental hygiene routine that caused discoloration.
Patients Who Should Avoid Teeth Whitening Procedures
While teeth whitening is fairly easy, it is not accessible to everyone. Dentists will discourage specific patients from receiving the treatment for various reasons. Some of them include the following:
Patients With a Tooth Decay Condition
If your teeth are exposed to tooth decay, a teeth whitening process will be ineffective and could pose additional health risks. The primary reason to avoid teeth whitening is that your tooth is exposed to high bacterial levels. Thus, the appropriate treatment would be extraction or fillings placement.
Moreover, tooth decay may expose your nerves, causing intense pain or sensitivity when exposed to the bleaching agent or the activation light. Hence, avoidance is highly recommended until your dentist treats the underlying condition.
Lactating or Pregnant Patients:
You should avoid teeth whitening procedures if you are pregnant or lactating, as the chemical components can harm your baby. Since the conditions are temporary, you can pick up the treatment when your baby is older to avoid exposing them to health risks.
What to Expect During the Consultation Process
When you first approach your dentist for a consultation, they will engage you on several matters. Having an idea of what to expect ahead of the consultation is advisable, as you become better equipped to answer questions helpfully.
Some important pointers to consider before consultation and those that your dentist may inquire about include the following:
Your Medical History
Your dentist will likely begin the consultation process by inquiring about your medical history to obtain more information on your health. Questions may range from whether you have allergies and have suffered previous injuries or dental harm.
Additionally, they may inquire about whether you are reactive to drugs and bleaching agents, as they will be a key component in the pre-treatment and treatment. If you are unsure of your answers, feel free to disclose that because your dentist can then conduct some independent research.
What You Intend to Achieve With the Process
Further, your dentist inquires about your dental goals as you seek the teeth whitening process. They do this to ensure you understand the possible outcomes and whether you are eligible for that treatment.
Additionally, disclosing your goals early can inform the dentist about the treatment regimen to apply, depending on whether it suits your teeth. Since you will have disclosed your expectations, your dentist also operates from the point of certainty. Thus, you can expect high-quality results targeted to your specific needs.
Whether You Have Other Ongoing Dental Treatments
The success of a teeth whitening procedure also depends on whether you receive any other dental treatment. By disclosing this information, you can provide helpful pointers to your dentist to help them determine whether a teeth whitening process is feasible for the time being.
For example, there may be better choices than teeth whitening if you have an upcoming tooth removal or a dental implant procedure. The removed tooth will no longer form part of your dental formula, so whitening it would be a waste.
Similarly, many dental implant procedures involve the removal of your natural crown for replacement with a synthetic one. If so, whitening your teeth before the dental implant procedure is complete may also turn out to be obsolete.
Overall, you want to be as open as possible with your dentist to ensure they understand the effects that teeth whitening may have on other dental procedures. This way, you will have reduced the possibility of facing complications later.
Your Dental Arrangement
Finally, your dentist will conduct a physical examination of your teeth before moving to the next stage of treatment. The examination process involves checking your dental arrangement, specifically teeth alignment.
Undertaking these procedures is necessary for the dentist because teeth alignment can reveal buildup that causes discoloration. The physical examination can also help your dentist determine the severity of your discoloration for a proper treatment diagnosis.
The process is essential primarily if you are unsure what to request and expect during teeth whitening. Once the dentist has obtained the information necessary, they will guide you on the subsequent treatment procedure to give you sufficient preparation time.
Teeth Whitening Procedure
Once your dentist clears you to undergo the teeth whitening procedure, you only need to schedule a date and prepare for the treatment. If you have a few days ahead of the process, you should understand what goes on for clarity and confidence.
If so, follow the guide below to increase your knowledge of the procedure. For a teeth whitening process, your dentist will:
Clean Your Teeth
Teeth cleaning is integral for the success of your teeth whitening process and is, therefore, the first step to take. During cleaning, your dentist will focus on removing any stubborn buildup on your teeth, including plaque and tar stains.
Additional cleaning can remove any deposits of binding agents that remain after you remove the braces. Hence, informing your dentist of your treatment history can be critical in helping them be thorough with the cleaning.
Generally, the cleaning process is painless, as it focuses on your enamel. However, patients with tooth sensitivity are prone to some discomfort. If so, you want to alert your dentist as soon as possible to avoid continuous pain.
Bleaching Selection
After the dentist cleans your mouth satisfactorily, they will select the appropriate bleaching agent to undertake the teeth whitening process. They are likely to have predetermined the best solution for your cleaning beforehand, so it will only take a few minutes to set the bleaching agent on the worktable before proceeding.
However, some patients’ teeth may present significant shade improvement after the initial cleaning session. If noticeable changes apply to your case, your dentist may reduce the intensity of the teeth whitening agent to avoid exposing your enamel to unnecessary bleaching.
Drying the Mouth
Thirdly, your dentist will use a special suction tool to dry your mouth as they prepare to begin the teeth whitening procedure. Mouth-drying is critical to reducing the chances of saliva interfering with the cleaning process.
Additionally, working on a dry tooth surface allows the dentist to apply the bleaching agent evenly without diluting saliva. Hence, it would help if you prepared to have your mouth dried continuously until the whitening process is complete.
Some patients report an irritating sensation in their throat when their mouth is dry, resulting in uncontrollable coughing. Thus, if you feel uncomfortable during the mouth-drying process, you can inform your dentist or their assistant for help.
Teeth whitening By Coating the Agent
The teeth whitening process begins when your dentist coats your teeth surfaces with a gel that should start the bleaching process. One of the main components of the gel is hydrogen peroxide, a chemical bleaching substance that is safe for patients.
Once the dentist spreads the gel to each tooth, they will activate the bleaching element using a UV light. The bleaching process may take a few minutes to hours, depending on the treatment you receive. The UV light is safe for use, so you do not have to worry about the effects it may have on your teeth. Nevertheless, you can request for additional information about the process to help you understand what it entails.
Treatment Process Duration
Your teeth whitening duration depends on how soon you intend to see results. Therefore, your dentist will inquire about your preferred treatment process to help you reach your goals more shortly if that is what you intend.
Firstly, you may opt for one long session, within which the dentist will whiten your teeth to the desired shade. Usually, you will spend around two hours in the process because the bleaching agent requires sufficient exposure time to your teeth. After two hours, the dental team reviews the teeth to ensure that they are the correct shade. If so, the process is complete, and you will only return to the office for a check-up.
Alternatively, you can opt for segmented treatment if you are not rushing to complete the teeth whitening process. The procedures are short, ranging between thirty minutes to an hour each. However, you must schedule two to three sessions before fully attaining the new teeth-whitening shade. Thus, this second option is more suitable if you have a more flexible schedule to receive consistent treatment.
Aftercare Tips to Maintain Your Teeth Whitening Results
Upon completing the procedure, you want to learn what to avoid and do to maintain your new teeth shade. Your dentist will provide helpful aftercare tips for your reference, which you should strive to follow.
Notably, many care tips revolve around avoiding specific foods because they are the most likely to cause severe staining. Some advice to follow is:
- Brush your teeth after every meal. If not, ensure you swirl clean water in your mouth to rinse it.
- Avoid dark-colored drinks like red wine, coffee, and juices. If you must have the drinks, use a straw to minimize teeth contact.
- Avoid smoking to prevent tar from coating your teeth.
- Continue with proper oral hygiene by brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash every day.
- Attend all follow-up appointments with your dentist.
Contact a Cosmetic Dentist Near Me
A bright smile is just what you need to improve your look and build on your confidence, regardless of the conditions that caused your teeth to stain. By identifying a trusted team of dentists, you will achieve a bright smile through teeth whitening services in no time. Not only will your dentist take time to customize treatment methods that work for you, but also apply their enhanced skills during treatment. This way, you can expect consistently excellent results.
You enjoy quality dental treatment services at Beach Dental Care Anaheim, including teeth whitening procedures. We have built our experience over time and are well-equipped to handle every case with care while delivering the desired results. The team can also address any concerns and questions you have during treatment. For more information on teeth whitening procedures, call us today at 714-995-4000.
