Teeth Whitening: Know Your Options
Teeth whitening is the most requested cosmetic procedure at the dentist’s office. If you are thinking about whitening your teeth, you’re not alone.
Whiter teeth are sought after by people of all ages and for many reasons.
Maybe your teeth have gotten less white with age or you want to be your best self at a special occasion like a wedding, prom or high school reunion. Whatever the reason, whiter teeth bring a brighter smile which draws people in. They also bring more confidence and a more youthful appearance.
Teeth whitening options
There are two types of teeth whitening treatments and both can bring a whiter smile in a short amount of time. The first is a quick, one hour in-office session. The other is a professional grade, take-home whitening kit. Both use peroxide and a blend of bleaching chemicals that oxidize and reduce stains on your teeth.
Let’s unpack the differences between the two options.
In-office whitening procedures
In-office whitening sessions are safe, easy and popular because you see a significant difference in about an hour.
In most cases, we recommend your whitening session immediately follow your teeth cleaning visit. This helps maximize your results.
How In Office Whitening Works
After protecting your gums, a whitening solution is applied to the enamel at the front of your teeth. This oxidizes the tooth enamel and removes stubborn stains quickly and easily. A high intensity LED light activates the treatment.
Dr. Frahm offers two in-office treatment options, both of which are immediate, gentle and effective. The Sinsational Smile treatment is the world’s first eco-friendly whitening system. After only 20 minutes, this treatment makes your teeth up to five shades whiter with ingredients that are environmentally safe.
The ZOOM system is aptly named in that it whitens teeth up to 10 shades in under an hour. The powerful whitening solution and light activation efficiently remove stains for a brighter smile. For those who are looking for a beautiful smile for an approaching special occasion, the ZOOM and Sinsational treatments will bring a sparkle to your smile quickly.
Professional grade take-home whitening
Take home whitening kits are a great option for those who are willing to wait a few weeks to whiten teeth and save a little money in the process. These kits run about a quarter of the cost of an in-office procedure, and they take two to four weeks of daily treatment.
Take home whitening kits are just as effective as in office procedures, but they use a different process. To start, your dentist makes a dental impression of your teeth. In one to two weeks, you’ll receive a custom-fitted tray that is exactly contoured to your mouth. Once a day, you fill the tray with a special gel solution and insert it, much like a mouth guard. These customized whitening trays fit your mouth perfectly, so the whitening solution fills the area around and between each tooth. Depending upon the kit you choose, the kit is worn for an hour or overnight. Finally, to keep your teeth healthy and to reduce any sensitivity to the gel, each treatment is followed by a high-grade fluoride treatment. If you are ready for a younger looking, fresh clean smile, click the link below to schedule an appointment!