Teeth Whitening in Norcross

When Is Professional Dental Whitening Recommended?

In-office teeth whitening is appropriate for people who have otherwise healthy teeth and gums and who want whiter, brighter teeth instantly. This treatment works best for tooth discoloration caused by consuming high-pigment foods like cherries, tea, cola, coffee, red wine, tomato sauce and balsamic vinegar.

This professional dental whitening procedure is also called chairside whitening or power bleaching because it is performed in our office using a potent bleaching gel. In-office whitening is closely supervised by our professional team to ensure that you have a pain-free, safe and effective experience. Results are dramatic, and they’re noticeable as soon as you leave our procedure chair.

Some tooth discoloration types aren’t effectively lightened by whitening procedures, though. Tetracycline-caused discoloration, for example, does not respond to teeth whitening, nor does tooth discoloration resulting from decay, injury or other dental structural problems. If you have a tooth restoration, such as a crown, veneer or filling, be prepared for no change in the restoration’s color. These restorations aren’t susceptible to the bleaching agent, so their color will stay the same, even though your natural teeth will become whiter.

We would be delighted to help you achieve a whiter smile. Call our office to book a consultation with our dentist to find out if your tooth discoloration can be lightened with in-office dental whitening.

What Is Professional-Grade Teeth Whitening at Home?

While you’ll rarely get the same results at home as you can from our in-office teeth whitening treatments, we can provide you with an at-home whitening kit that comes close. Your kit is made by your dentist, and it includes professional-grade teeth whitening gel that is far more effective than over-the-counter bleaching gels. To ensure a great fit for your kit’s teeth whitening trays, we’ll take an impression of your teeth. Simply wearing the tray for an hour a day for two weeks can lighten your teeth by as many as six shades.

What Can I Expect to Pay for Teeth Whitening?

You can expect your total teeth bleaching cost to be based on your own specific needs and teeth whitening goals. Some of the issues that determine your overall costs include the number of treatments you need, whether repairs are needed to blend the color of your crowns and fillings, and whether you’ll need at-home treatments to maintain your white teeth. There are a number of very effective teeth whitening systems, and the type of system you choose also affects your total cost. You’ll learn more about your expected costs when you set up a consultation with one of our experienced dentists. After your consultation, we’ll provide you with a comprehensive treatment plan and cost estimate.

Are Professional or DIY Whitening Products More Effective?

You can expect professional dental whitening treatments to offer more powerful results in a shorter time span than with do-it-yourself teeth whitening products. Over-the-counter options provide a small improvement to your tooth coloring, but they lack the potency and reliability of a professional treatment. Even worse, if you use DIY products incorrectly, you may irritate your gums and cause discomfort. With professional treatment, dental supervision helps ensure you, your teeth and your gums stay safe during the procedure so you can enjoy your dramatically whiter smile from the moment you leave our office.

How Long Will Your Teeth Whitening Procedure Last?

Cosmetic teeth whitening is very quick, taking just about half an hour to 1.5 hours. Take a look below to learn some of what you can expect during a typical procedure:

1. Before treatment, your teeth are cleaned and examined.
2. Your teeth bleaching dentist places a painless cheek retractor in your mouth. This moves your lips and cheeks away from your teeth so teeth are easily reached.
3. A liquid shield is applied to your gums for protection against the potent bleaching gel.
4. A coat of whitening gel is applied to your teeth. After it sits for several minutes, that coating is removed, then another layer is applied. This is repeated several times.
5. After your last coat of whitening gel is removed, your dentist determines if you need follow-up treatment to achieve your desired tooth color.

Often, photos of your teeth are taken before, during and after your treatment so your dentist can track your progress.

If you want a shining, bright smile, we can help. Contact us today to discover how teeth whitening in Norcross can give you a confident smile.