Teeth whitening is a dental care process that entails bleaching teeth to make them appear lighter. Although this process can make a person’s teeth brilliant, it can lighten the existing color by multiple shades. So who can perform this procedure? Since teeth whitening is a type of dentistry, it should be performed by a dentist or any other certified dental professional like a dental therapist or hygienist as per the prescription of a dentist. Although some beauty salons provide teeth whitening services, this is illegal if a dental professional is absent.
Furthermore, irrespective of these saloons using an affordable teeth whitening kit and affordable teeth whitening products, the lack of a professional can place a person’s oral health at risk. Although their DIY affordable whitening products and affordable teeth whitening strips, it is essential to seek professional help due to the risks involved. So, what happens during a professional teeth whitening process? After completing this process, the patient must make multiple visits to their dentist for some months. Moreover, the dentist takes an impression of their teeth to create a mouthguard and instructs them how to use it with a bleaching gel whereby it is applied for a specific time, two to four weeks.
Americans value having shiny, white and sparkling smiles, and this has resulted in teeth whitening procedures becoming more popular than ever. Before you go in to get the procedure done, you should check around to see the average cost of teeth whitening by dentists in your area. If you just want to know more about teeth whitening to see if it’s for you, here are some myths and facts about teeth whitening that everyone should know.
Myth #1: Teeth whitening is painful. False. The process can cause sensitivity, but it’s not painful in the long run. The procedure doesn’t require sedation and can be done quickly with minimal irritation. The most common side effects are temporary swelling and sensitivity to hot and cold, and these symptoms usually go away in a few days.
Myth #2: Baking soda or peroxide are as effective as in office whitening. False. There are lots of myths about do-it-yourself treatments that are believed to whiten your smile. These treatments won’t actually improve the color of your teeth, and you can waste lots of time and money by trying to do it at home instead of talking to a professional.
Myth #3: Teeth whitening is permanent. False. Anyone who has their teeth whitened will see shocking and instant results, but they won’t last forever. You will need to see your dentist regularly to keep up, because things like drinking red wine or coffee can stain your teeth again after a period of time. Talk to your dentist to ask how often you will need to go in for a touch up, because it varies with different providers and different brands of teeth whiteners.
Myth #4: Teeth whitening ruins tooth enamel. False. Tooth enamel is the hardest surface in the human body, and it’s resistant to lots of things. In the past, however, the harsh chemicals used for teeth whitening could damage tooth enamel because they were so strong. Advances in chemical technology have created whitening products that are less harsh but actually produce better results. The wide availability of these products has also led to a reduced cost of teeth whitening by dentists, so now is a better time than ever to have your teeth professionally whitened.
Myth #5: You can’t over whiten your teeth. False. Even though your tooth enamel is very resistant, you can actually damage it if you whiten your teeth too much. If you expose your teeth to whitening chemicals too often, your teeth will get weaker and will be more likely to get cavities. In extreme cases, teeth can lose their natural protective coating and can appear translucent and pearly. This is a classic sign of over whitening, but it’s also very rare and requires aggressive whitening to occur. Most people are happy with the results of the procedure after one visit, and it’s not usually an issue for people who take good care of their teeth.
Myth #6: Teeth whitening is cheap. False. The cost of teeth whitening by dentists varies, but consumers should be prepared to pay a good amount of money to restore the color of their smile. The average cosmetic dentistry patient spends between $5,000 and $6,000 on dental procedures, but if you’re only getting your teeth whitened the cost could be less. Before you commit to having your teeth whitened, talk to a few cosmetic dental clinics and shop around for the best price. Helpful research also found here.
