When It's Time To Brighten Your Smile: How Professional Teeth Whitening Is Done

If you don't like the current shade of your teeth and you want a brighter smile, you can go to a dentist for professional teeth whitening services. While you can try to whiten your teeth at home using gels or paste, a dentist is able to use stronger materials to get the job done faster. When you go to a dentist for teeth whitening, there are a number of steps you can expect. From measuring your current shade to figuring out how much to whiten your teeth, a dentist will walk you through the process carefully.

Measuring the Current Color of Your Teeth

Using a color scale, your dentist will identify the current color of your teeth to set a baseline. This is done by holding up the different color shades up to your teeth and matching the color that is closest to your current shade.

Once the color of your teeth is determined, your teeth will be cleaned carefully and polished. This allows your teeth to be nice and clean so that there is no plaque left on your teeth. With your teeth cleaned, your dentist will then place gauze all around your mouth to keep your teeth dry and the solution from getting on your gums, mouth, or lips.

The Whitening Solution is Applied

When the dentist has protected your gums from the solution, the whitening agent will be applied to your teeth. Some form of peroxide is generally in the whitening agent. This material has to cure for a good thirty minutes to an hour, depending on the exact solution used. Your dentist may need to use a curing light in order to activate the whitening solution so that it can change the shade of your teeth. Once the right shade is reached, or you have reached the time limit for the solution to be on your teeth, your mouth will be rinsed out. 

If your teeth don't reach the desired shade of white the first time, you can have another application at a future visit. Whitening can cause sensitivity, so a fluoride is often used to help with the sensitivity. Over time, your teeth may continue to get stained from the food or drinks you consume. When you love a bright white smile, it can be accomplished with the help of your dentist. Professional teeth whitening is worth the investment and can make your smile look great. For more information about teeth whitening services, contact a dental clinic like Pinon Hills Dental.