Teeth Whitening Treatments - Home vs the Dentist

Have you been considering our professional teeth whitening services at Soothing Dental in Midlothian, Texas? Many people wonder what the difference is between getting your teeth whitened at the dentist and using an at-home whitening kit. Keep reading to learn more about the whitening options available to you.

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What is Teeth Whitening?

Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental procedure that safely and effectively whitens your teeth, removing teeth stains that may come from tobacco products, coffee, tea, red wine, and other drinks or foods. It is not a permanent whitening, but with proper oral hygiene, teeth whitening can last several months, and sometimes up to a year.

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Teeth Whitening at Home

You may have seen a few whitening options available at your local drugstore. They come in various forms, including:

• Trays. Over-the-counter whitening trays are filled with a peroxide whitening solution. You bite down into them, following package instructions. You can use them at your convenience, but it may take a few days or weeks to get the results you desire. These custom trays are also not designed for your mouth, which means it might not fit right, causing some irritation.
• Strips. Whitening strips are plastic strips attached to the front surface of your teeth. Generally, you use them for a couple of hours per day, and they gradually bleach your teeth to a whiter shade.
• Whitening toothpaste and mouthwash. These products are the gentlest form of tooth whitening, but they could also take the most repeated uses and the longest amount of time to get results. You may choose to use these products after a professional whitening procedure to maintain the results.

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Teeth Whitening at the Dentist

Going to the dentist to get your teeth whitened is, in general, a better choice for most people. Check out the benefits of coming to Soothing Dental for teeth whitening services:

• Safe. This is a safer option because our dental professionals conduct the whitening services, making sure you and your teeth get exactly the right amount of whitening in exactly the right places.
• Effective. Because the dentist is doing the whitening procedure, we can use a higher dosage of peroxide bleaching gel, which gets your teeth whiter.
• Fast. The higher dosage of whitening gel gets your teeth several shades whiter in a single dentist visit.

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Does Teeth Whitening Cause Tooth Sensitivity?

Unfortunately, teeth whitening can cause sensitivity. Talk to your dentist if you currently have sensitive teeth before getting a professional whitening treatment. He may have other whitening options for you to consider. For example, custom at-home whitening trays are used over a period of time, so they won’t create as much sensitivity as an in-office treatment.

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Cost of Teeth Whitening

The store-bought whitening products are less expensive than in-office treatments, but you need to take into consideration the results and the time you dedicate to using them. Going to the dentist for a whitening treatment in a single appointment gets good whitening results in one day.

Because teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental procedure, it is usually not covered by dental insurance plans.

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Are You Ready for a Brighter Smile?

The staff at Soothing Dental wants to help you achieve the smile you’ve always dreamed of! Contact us to schedule your in-office teeth whitening appointment in our relaxing, comfortable dental office in Midlothian, Texas. We make it easy to achieve desired results and get beautiful teeth that will boost your confidence. We will also help you understand more about the whitening products we use and how they differ from the over-the-counter products you could get at the store. It’s great to know that you have a professional, caring dentist taking care of you and your teeth!