TEETH WHITENING CANDIDATES
When people hear the term “teeth whitening,” they often think of it as a single procedure. In reality, there are a few different procedures that fall under the “whitening” umbrella. Some of the different options for whitening are over-the-counter, minimally invasive and can be done at home. Other services require the help of a dentist to perform.
What Are the Types of Teeth Whitening?
There are a variety of whitening options, should you choose to address the color or shade of your teeth. Some of these include:
- Whitening Toothpaste
- Whitening Gum
- Whitening Mouthwash
- At-Home Strips
- At-Home Professional Whitening
- In-Office Professional Whitening
Many people will start with the easiest and least invasive option, such as whitening toothpaste, mouthwash or gum. If these don’t provide the degree of whiteness that the person is looking for, they may move on to whitening strips or professional whitening services.
Why Professional Whitening?
While whitening strips can be effective, they also should involve a trip to the dentist. While people don’t need a dentist’s note to purchase over-the-counter whitening strips, they can still cause pretty severe damage to a person’s teeth if their enamel isn’t strong enough to handle the whitening solution used in the strips.
Before using any advanced form of whitening product (including whitening strips), set an appointment with your dentist for a consultation. They will look at your teeth and they will determine whether or not the enamel of your teeth is strong enough to undergo whitening. If they decide that you are a good candidate for whitening, you can then consider your options. While you may still be able to go with strips, you should consider professional whitening. Professional teeth whitening involves a dentist providing supervision and even direct help with the whitening process. This helps to ensure the effectiveness of your whitening procedure. Dentist’s also have access to the highest quality materials, and can provide the best whitening possible for your teeth.
Costs of Professional Whitening
Should you choose to go with professional whitening, you will likely be given two options—at- home or in-office whitening. Both of these have their advantages and costs. At-home whitening generally costs less money (around $250), but also takes a significant amount of time longer to complete. In-office whitening, on the other hand, can be completed in as little as one visit with the help of a special solution and laser. In-office whitening often costs around $350, though, making it a more expensive option.
Which Whitening Method Is Best for Me?
If you only have a small degree of whitening that you need to undergo, you may want to consider starting with whitening toothpaste or mouthwash. If the issue is more severe, set an appointment with your dentist to see if you are a candidate for professional whitening. If they decide you are, you can discuss different options for whitening, their costs and which are right for your specific needs.
Speak with your dentist about professional teeth whitening for the whitest, most brilliant teeth possible.
Drs. Leal, Spangler & Johnson, located in Winston-Salem, NC, offer teeth whitening to help bring luster back to your smile. Contact our office for a consultation or to schedule teeth whitening today.
If you're interested in learning more about teeth whitening, here's some further reading on the differences between laser whitening and professional trays.