Whitening Services
in Winston-Salem

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more moderate solution, a simple bleaching gel may be right for you. If you end up going in this direction, you have the choice of buying bleaching gel yourself over the counter to apply at home or going to a dentist for bleaching at the office. There’s no right or wrong answer here; it’s simply based on how quickly you want results, how much different you want your teeth to look.

Over-the-counter gel is intended for those who are only looking for small improvements, rather than those with severe discoloration or people who want a drastic change. Additionally, this process can take much longer than the other options, especially compared to laser bleaching, which can give you whiter teeth in a single hour. By contrast, bleaching your own teeth at home can take multiple applications and be harder to manage than if you leave it to an experienced professional.

Generally, over-the-counter bleaching gel comes in strips that are applied to the top and bottom teeth multiple times over a short period. These work similarly to those found in a professional office, but they’re usually somewhat less effective, and they can be hard to secure on your own teeth. Therefore, this option is typically recommended for those with mild or moderate discoloration.

Those with experience using over-the-counter bleaching gel know how hard it can be to keep the strips tight against your teeth over the entire recommended period of use. While the top teeth are usually simple to work with, the bottom teeth usually have a more irregular shape and are harder to access, given their position in the mouth. This is one of the main reasons professional treatment is known to be more effective than that applied at home, but it’s not the only one.

At-home bleaching gels provided by dentists generally have a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide than over-the-counter options, which means they will be more effective in a shorter amount of time. Professional whitening also means the service will be performed under the supervision of a dentist, helping to better ensure your results.

At-home professional bleaching also helps to avoid a lot of the discomfort people experience due to whitening strips. This is often caused by the strips being placed incorrectly or for too long. Your dentist will provide you with detailed instructions for your at-home professional bleaching, allowing you to whiten your teeth in a more comfortable and controlled way.