In-chair professional teeth whitening is an excellent way to give yourself a whiter and brighter smile. There are many benefits of teeth whitening, but if you’re tired of wasting time and money on over-the-counter products that don’t live up to expectations, then in-chair professional teeth whitening is for you.
When compared to DIY teeth whitening products, getting your teeth whitened under the careful supervision of a professional is the safest and most effective method. It is the most predictable whitening options since dental practitioners can use the highest concentration of bleaching products that are not available to the general public.
It’s a simple and safe process that only takes around one and a half hours.
Pre-treatment check-up
Before undergoing teeth whitening treatment, it’s advised that you first have a consultation with your dentist or oral health therapist. This consultation involves conducting a check-up – which can include a thorough professional cleaning and x-rays to both ensure that teeth whitening is suitable and to determine the best kind of teeth whitening treatment for you.
Once the consultation and general check-up are complete, your teeth whitening treatment can begin.
Preparing your mouth and teeth
To expose your teeth and keep your mouth open, a mouth retractor will be used. Whilst this could be a little bit uncomfortable at first, your mouth will quickly adjust to the retractor, and you will be provided with some lip balm or similar product to prevent your lips from drying and cracking.
To get your teeth bright and white, a particularly strong form of bleach is used. Whilst this bleach is safe and works well at removing the stains on teeth, it can be sensitive if it comes in contact with areas of your mouth other than your teeth. To prevent this, a rubber shield, gel or another form of protection will be placed on your gums and cheeks.
Teeth whitening process begins
Once the inside of your mouth is protected, the bleach can be applied to your teeth. Your dentist or oral health therapist will carefully apply the product to the visible areas of your teeth until they’re completely covered.
After the bleach has been applied, it will be activated using UV light. The UV light will be placed directly in front of your mouth and is used to heat the bleach, which allows it to penetrate as deep as needed into the enamel.
The teeth whitening process can take anywhere between 60 – 90 minutes, and the bleach may be reapplied a few times throughout this process.
Once the treatment is over, you will be able to see your results immediately!
Maintenance
To maintain your brand-new smile, it’s recommended that you avoid consuming any food or drink that is likely to stain your teeth, especially within 24 hours after your treatment. This includes fizzy drink, fruit juice, dark fruits, black coffee, dark tea, red wine, chocolate or lollies, tobacco and curry.
You may choose to also buy an at-home maintenance kit. This kit will include a tray and some teeth whitening gel. When using this gel, it is extremely important to use the tray because it will prevent the gel from coming into contact with your gums and causing discomfort. Your dentist or oral health therapist will advise you of when to carry out at-home maintenance, and how long you should do it for.
If you’re interested in getting your teeth professionally whitened, book an appointment with the friendly team of dentists and oral health therapists at Coburg Hill Oral Care.
