What to Expect at Your Professional Teeth Whitening Appointment

Choosing to get teeth whitening is a great way for you to get a brighter smile. Your teeth can become several shades lighter in just a couple of hours. Getting your teeth whitened professionally often works better than using a kit at home. Read on to learn what a teeth whitening appointment involves.

Getting teeth whitening

The order of steps in teeth whitening will depend on the treatment that the patient needs. Most of the time, treatment is provided using a gel of hydrogen peroxide. Dentists use a stronger solution than an at-home kit. This is why the results are often more noticeable. The dentist will examine the patient’s teeth just before the procedure to see if there are any last-minute issues. If not, the patient’s mouth will be prepared for the treatment then.

Precautions before the treatment

The procedure will begin with the patient’s mouth being protected from the teeth-whitening solution. The dentist will place a lip retractor to keep the patient’s mouth open. There is a section at the back of the retractor. This will allow the patient to bite down so that the jaw muscles can relax.

The patient will also have gauze placed in the mouth to keep the teeth dry. The dentist will then place protections to keep the lips, gums, and inner cheeks clean. A rubber dam will be painted on the gums. This protects the gums from the strong whitening solution, which will help to reduce sensitivity in the long run.

Then the inner cheeks and the lips will have a muco-protectant gel. This protects the tissues from the peroxide that the bleaching agent uses. Without this protection, the cheeks or lips could burn. As the gel becomes stronger, the tissues are even more at risk.

Beginning the teeth whitening treatment

During a professional teeth whitening treatment, the gel will be activated using a laser or a light. This means that results are often very noticeable after just one appointment. The dentist will use a brush to paint the gel on the patient’s teeth. If a light is being used, it will be switched on and pointed at the gel.

The light will be left on the patient’s teeth for about 20 minutes at a time. The length of time will depend on how strong the whitening solution is. For stronger solutions, the time will be less than with weaker solutions. The light will cause the oxygen in the gel to sink deeper into the patient’s teeth. Once the right amount of time has passed, the dentist can remove the teeth whitening solution.

What to do after the treatment

Now that the teeth whitening treatment is over, caring for the treated teeth is important. The teeth will be more porous at this stage. This means that staining them again will be easier. Here are some pointers to remember in caring for whitened teeth:

• Stay away from foods and drinks that stain teeth. This should happen at least two days after the procedure. Dark-colored drinks, berries, wine, tea, and coffee can stain the teeth right away if one consumes them after the treatment. Consuming tobacco can also leave stains on teeth. Dentists often recommend waiting for a week. Limiting these activities can help maintain the whitening results.
• Consider using whitening toothpaste at least a week after the treatment. Dental sensitivity is common after dental whitening. Teeth whitening toothpaste tends to worsen the sensitivity. It will be healthier to stay away from this toothpaste until dental sensitivity fades.
• Brush and floss regularly. This can help remove minor stains, plaque, and food particles after every meal. Using an antibacterial mouthwash can kill bacteria and rinse away food particles.
• Use straws. Doing so can prevent the dark-colored drinks from touching the teeth too much. Carry around metal straws. These straws are usable and easy to clean.

A note about whitening chewing gums

These gums may help whiten teeth, but dentists do not recommend them. The whitening goal would need a huge amount of gum. Whitening gums can worsen TMJ issues. It would be better to work with the dentist in maintaining and caring for whitened teeth.

Visit a dentist today for teeth whitening

Professional teeth whitening can reach stains that at-home kits cannot. It is often easier for you to get whitening at your dentist’s office than at home. If you are ready for whiter teeth, then visit your dentist today. Your dentist knows the right way to protect your teeth during the treatment.

Request an appointment here: https://www.johnscreekteeth.com or call Johns Creek Dentistry at (770) 623-1427 for an appointment in our Johns Creek office.

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