At Home Teeth Whitening

A bright smile enhances your appearance and gives you confidence. But when your teeth are yellowed or discolored you may be hesitant to smile. If that’s the case, you might want to discuss with your dentist an at-home professional bleaching kit to lighten your teeth. Whether you are self-conscious because you have yellowed teeth from smoking or drinking coffee, or if you just want to look your best, tooth whitening is a sure way to brighten your smile and gain increased confidence in your appearance.

What is Tooth Whitening?

This is a wonderful teeth whitening technique that allows us to easily, comfortably and safely whiten your smile. In our La Mesa office near El Cajon, teeth whitening La Mesa dentist El Cajon we use a special, mild, pleasant tasting carbamide peroxide gel that, over a period of 7-10 days, can dramatically whiten your smile. Custom-made, soft plastic stints are fabricated that allow you to wear them almost invisibly. The special tooth whitening gel is placed in these stints and worn for several hours a day (or night). Most patients notice a difference in just 6-8 hours of time. Almost all of our San Diego area patients have completed their tooth whitening within 2-3 weeks. Darker teeth may take longer.

Teeth Whitening Techniques

The most effective teeth whitening techniques available today are in-office laser tooth whitening and at-home teeth whitening with custom-fit trays. Both teeth whitening techniques are best performed under your dentist’s supervision at our La Mesa dentist office to ensure the safest results.

Zoom In-Office Laser Tooth Whitening

Zoom in-office teeth whitening methods are performed with the Zoom teeth bleaching gel and laser light. Zoom whitening is a good method of teeth whitening for sensitive teeth, as the process may be closely monitored by La Mesa cosmetic dentist Dr. Jeff Gray. The teeth are carefully isolated from the lips and gums, and then the Zoom teeth bleaching gel is applied to them. A laser is used in conjunction with the Zoom gel to accelerate and amplify the tooth whitening process.

At-Home Tooth Whitening

There are several choices for those who are interested in at-home teeth whitening methods. Dr. Gray can take imprints of your teeth and then make custom-fitted trays for you to take home to complete the tooth whitening process. There are also teeth bleaching kits and other over-the-counter teeth whitening products available to brighten your smile.

Cost of Teeth Whitening

The cost of teeth whitening varies according to the type of teeth whitening method – whether professional in-office or at-home.

At-home whitening kits, prescribed by a dentist, are safe and generally pain-free (although some feel sensitive to cold during treatment). And as an added bonus, the whitening gel used is PH neutral which means it actually helps to prevent cavities!

An in-home bleaching kit offers several advantages to the patient. You can do at your convenience in your own home. It’s also gentler on the gums than store-bought kits. Before you leave the office, your dentist will explain how the in-home system works and instruct you on its use.

Making an Impression

Before you use your whitening kit at home, you will have your teeth cleaned and checked for tooth decay or gum disease. Once any problems are resolved, your dentist makes an impression of your upper and lower teeth and then creates a customized mouth tray for you right here in the office.

Before you leave, your dentist will explain how the in-home system works, how much solution to place in the tray during treatment and instruct you on what you should do at home to obtain the best results.

The At-Home Bleaching Process

At home, you fill the tray with a solution of highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide and slip it over your teeth. Because the tray is fitted to your mouth, the solution can’t leak out and irritate the delicate gums.

Professional, at-home bleaching kits are easy to use with some simple guidelines. Following these rules increases your chances of brightening your smile:

• Clean and floss your teeth before starting the procedure.
• Leave the tray with the solution in your mouth for an hour per day for two weeks.
• Don’t eat, smoke or drink while the tray is in place. Wait 30 minutes after the tray is removed to eat or drink.

After two weeks, you’ll visit your dentist to compare your teeth color before and after the treatment. If your teeth are not as white as you had hoped, additional teeth-bleaching sessions can be done at home.

Is an At-home Whitening Kit for You?

At Espire Dental, we offer both at-home and in-office teeth-whitening treatments along with other cosmetic dental procedures. During your personal consultation, our dental professionals can discuss these therapies and help you decide which one is right for you. Book an appointment today for a brighter smile!