Whitening Options

Have you ever looked at your teeth and thought, “Man, I wish they were whiter”? Or maybe you’ve even picked up some whitening strips from the store to try, only to figure out that they don’t actually work as well as you had been hoping. Well, there are some solutions you can try. There are quite a few ways to whiten your teeth, but I have seen the best results with these two options:

1. In-Office Whitening: This gives you the quickest results, but can be sensitive and varies in the amount of whitening that is achieved.  Usually this is 1-2 hours you spend in the dentist chair as the doctor and assistant apply a high concentration of whitening gel to your teeth in multiple, small segments of time. The results are fast (relatively speaking) and long-lasting provided you don’t eat or drink a lot of staining foods. Because of the limited predictability with this option it is used more as a quick fix before an event or for individuals that aren't motivated to do the treatment themselves at home.
2. Take-Home Custom Whitening Trays: This is my favorite option and what I do for my own teeth. These may take a little longer than in the office to yield results but it is much easier to maintain and keep your teeth white and much faster than whitening strips. An impression is taken of your teeth and then trays are made to fit your teeth exactly. You will be given whitening gel and instructions on how to use your trays. The whitening happens in your home at your leisure. I give my patients Opalescence whitening gel. Typically instructions for this gel are: whiten for 30 minutes once a day for two to four weeks and touch-up as needed. This option is best because it gives the patient the opportunity to choose how white they want their teeth and gives the ability to maintain or touch up with time. 

Before Whitening                   After Whitening

It's as easy as that! There are some factors to consider for each type of whitening including cost, speed of results, length of time that effects last, and sensitivity. In general, take-home custom whitening trays are more cost effective than in-office whitening but the speed of your whitening results is much faster with in-office whitening than with at-home custom whitening trays. With any option it is important to have reasonable expectations as to how white your teeth will get. Do not expect them to turn Hollywood white without months and months of bleaching. At the same time most people notice a slight difference after just one week of whitening. Diet and smoking will affect how long they stay white.

At this time research shows no ill affects from whitening on the teeth. There is no damage done to the enamel during the process. The only recommendation is not to do it during pregnancy.

Your teeth typically will stay whiter longer with take-home custom whitening trays than an in-office whitening because you are able to touch up as needed. Some people experience sensitivity while using the whitening gel, this sensitivity is usually higher with in-office whitening sessions because the gel has a higher concentration of whitening agent than what would be given to you with take-home custom whitening trays. There are tips and tricks that you can do to alleviate this sensitivity, so don't let that scare you away from whitening!

If you have other questions or concerns, come in and talk to me.

Happy whitening!

~Cyrus Larson, DMD