Although there are many over-the-counter (OTC) solutions that claim to produce teeth whitening results, there are distinct advantages to getting them whitened professionally. Like most dental procedures, professional teeth whitening is not for everyone. That said, the professional whitening route can be a great option – particularly if you fit the following profile:
- Your teeth stains cannot be removed by normal brushing and flossing
- Your teeth stains are accumulated from years of neglect, regular coffee drinking, prolonged alcohol or tobacco use
- You cannot afford the time to sit through lengthy procedures
- You’re an impatient person who wants fast and visible results
- You dislike time-consuming home-care regimes
- You don’t like to follow label instructions
- You can’t seem to follow label instructions properly (based on previous experiences)
- You are not comfortable with the thought of using DIY products
If that sounds like you, professional teeth whitening can offer the speedier option to white and shiny teeth. You can also find assurance in the safety aspects. The fact that a trained dental professional is performing the procedure using protective tools and materials is a great place to start.
Prior to the whitening treatment, the cosmetic dentist will be able to examine your teeth to make sure that you will make a good candidate. Based on your dental records and history, your dentist can also determine whether you had prior work done that may preclude you from the whitening procedure.
For example, it may not be recommended for patients who had white fillings or veneers previously done in prominent areas of their teeth. That’s because the restorative materials react differently to the whitening process, as compared to natural teeth. Some patients who take the DIY route find out too late when they discover patchy whitening results due to this reason. If your teeth require fillings or cosmetic work to be done, the dentist can prioritise your treatments in a way that does not compromise the whitening results. The dentist can also give your teeth a good cleaning session prior to the whitening procedure to remove existing plaque and stains that may hinder the whitening results.
The biggest advantages of professional teeth whitening treatments have to be the speed and results. Depending on the condition of your teeth and extent of staining, professional laser teeth whitening treatments like Zoom! can brighten up your pearlies in as little as one hour.
In fact, the Zoom! Chairside Teeth Whitening System is known to deliver up to 8 shades of teeth whitening results in just a single appointment that typically lasts between 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. By comparison, most OTC home-use whitening kits take several weeks to achieve any amount of visible shade difference. The results also vary widely according to the brand and type of the OTC whitening kit. They use a variety of bleaching agents that vary in terms of composition and strength, therefore making it hard to determine what works and what doesn’t.
For all the benefits of professional whitening treatment, it is still a matter of choice. If you unsure whether you would make a good candidate for teeth whitening and the options that are available, you may consult a cosmetic dentist for an assessment.
To find out more about our teeth whitening options – including Zoom! Chairside Laser Teeth Whitening – speak to a dentist at Melbourne Dentist Clinic. Give us a call at (03) 9999 9703 or visit our website for more information.
