Professional teeth whitening vs at-home teeth whitening—International Clinics

Many people try to achieve a whiter and brighter smile. Still, the question remains: Are professional teeth-whitening treatments permanent? What are the types of professional teeth-whitening treatments? And what is the cost of professional teeth-whitening treatments?

This article describes the various techniques used in professional teeth whitening, the outcomes you can expect, treatment costs, and potential risks or adverse effects. Keep reading for more.

What is professional teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening is a cosmetic procedure designed to reduce and eliminate stains from natural teeth. One point worth noting is that only natural teeth are whitened because tooth-colored fillings cannot be lightened in any way.

A number of teeth-whitening options exist, but the majority of professional treatments contain either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide as an active ingredient.

The professional teeth whitening options consist of in-office and at-home teeth whitening.

Professional dentist teeth whitening

The best Professional teeth whitening is a dental treatment based on lightening the color of the teeth by removing stains and discoloration. It involves the dentist's application of high-concentration whitening gel for teeth. Usually, this glows with a special light or laser teeth whitening, which accelerates the gel's whitening process. Treatment takes an hour or so, and immediate results are observable. This is quite effective and works wonders on immediate, significant whitening of the teeth's color-safe

At-Home Whitening Kits

At-home whitening kits are very convenient for people to whiten their teeth at home. They usually contain less concentrated whitening gel and customized application trays. Though the whitening action is not as strong as that of professional treatments, it can still give good results over some time. It has to be applied precisely to avoid some side effects associated with tooth whitening, such as teeth sensitivity and gums irritation.

Types of Tooth Stains

Understanding the three main stain categories is important when considering teeth whitening. These include:

• Extrinsic Stains: These are brought on by outside variables in the mouth and are typically brought on by tobacco use, food and drink consumption, or contact with metal salts like copper and iron.

• Intrinsic Stains are discolorations that originate inside the tooth. They can be caused by fluorosis, natural aging, genetic factors, or the use of specific antibiotics during childhood.

• Combination Type Stains: These are both extrinsic and intrinsic stains.

Over-the-counter whitening toothpaste can usually remove or bleach the majority of extrinsic stains. However, you may want to consult with your dental provider about the best whitening option for your specific types and severity of stains and objectives.

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professional teeth-whitening procedure step-by-step

Some of the most pertinent actions in the in-office teeth-whitening procedure are as follows:

1. Initial Diagnosis: To determine the reasons behind tooth discoloration, the dentist will conduct a comprehensive examination of the teeth and may take X-rays or carry out other diagnostic procedures.

2. Evaluating Sensitivity: The dentist will also inquire about any prior tooth sensitivity to make the required adjustments during treatment.

3. Gum Protection: A barrier is placed along the gum line to shield your gums from the whitening solution.

4. Whitening Solution Application: The primary bleaching agent in the whitening solution used to paint teeth is hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.

5. Solution Activation: Some dentists employ a specialized light or laser to optimize the peroxide. This solution generally remains on your teeth for 30 to 60 minutes.

6. Rinsing: After passing time, the whitening solution will be rinsed from your teeth.

7. Follow-Up Visits: You may need to make several appointments depending on your desired whitening level.

Additionally, your dentist can add fluoride treatments to the solution or apply them before or after the whitening procedure to help lessen sensitivity. Of course, fluoride does not interfere with the products' effectiveness.

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How long does teeth whitening last?

Although professional teeth-whitening techniques give impressive results, including immediate ones when using lasers as part of the treatment steps, the results generally do not last a lifetime. Instead, they take months to years before the shine fades away.

The duration of the effects of the techniques used in teeth whitening depends on several factors, including:

• Type of technique: Professional treatments usually yield better results than simple remedies.

• Oral hygiene: Routine use of a toothbrush and interdental cleaning threads also prevents discoloration.

• Nutritional Features: Consume staining agents and drinks like coffee, tea, and red wine to further shorten the duration of the whitening treatment.

• Individual Habit: Smoking or Chewing Tobacco: These practices accelerate tooth darkening.

• The Shape of Teeth: The duration of whitening depends partly on the tooth’s natural color or enamel structure.

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Effectiveness of Professional Tooth Whitening vs. At-Home Tooth Whitening

You will surely be aware of the variations when comparing the two at-home and professional teeth-whitening techniques. Which included:

Professional tooth whitening is required; sitting at the dentist´s office employs higher bleaching solutions like hydrogen and carbamide peroxide, often exposed to specific lights or lasers. Usually, one appointment works magic and restores the original color of the teeth.

However, such kits that can be used in the comfort of one’s house at one’s own pace usually have weaker whitening chemicals that make their effects rather slow and less impressive. Such kits can improve the color of teeth; however, those that do will demand a long usage for it to be effective. On the other hand, using at-home techniques might not be that good in dealing with deep and long-term staining problems.

In general, applicants who want luxuriant, speedy results would most likely choose professional bleaching services, as they seem to give better results. Nonetheless, bleaching can be carried out at home for those who are not in a hurry and have a lean budget.

Laser teeth whitening (Assistive technology)

Laser whitening is a depigmentation procedure aimed at enhancing the various professional methods used for teeth whitening without using any chemical components in line with the technology.

The procedure will most likely begin in a clinic or hospital. Ideally, it should give the patient quick and tangible results. At this time, teeth are typically covered in landscaping with a gel that is allowed to sit for about a few minutes. The next step is to direct laser energy at the tooth to further activate the bleaching process, termed laser teeth whitening.

Laser teeth whitening benefits

The advantages of laser teeth whitening include:

• Improved operation and significantly reduced the time of treatment.

• The laser penetrates much deeper into the enamel, which means that the tooth-bleaching process will be even and much whiter.

• Cause less pain and damage since people can just concentrate the bleaching chemicals and the bleach on the teeth only.

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DIY professional teeth-whitening alternatives