What to Expect at Your Professional Teeth Whitening Appointment

Choosing to get teeth whitening is a great way for you to get a brighter smile. Your teeth can become several shades lighter in just a couple of hours. Getting your teeth whitened professionally often works better than using a kit at home. Read on to learn what this appointment involves.

Getting teeth whitening

The order of steps in teeth whitening will depend on the treatment that the patient needs. Most of the time, treatment is provided using a gel of hydrogen peroxide. Dentists use a stronger solution than an at-home kit. This is why the results are often more noticeable. The dentist will examine the patient’s teeth just before the procedure to see if there are any last-minute issues. If not, the patient’s mouth will be prepared for the treatment then.

Precautions before the treatment

The procedure will begin with the patient’s mouth being protected from the teeth-whitening solution. The dentist will place a lip retractor to keep the patient’s mouth open. There is a section at the back of the retractor. This will allow the patient to bite down so that the jaw muscles can relax.

The patient will also have gauze placed in the mouth to keep the teeth dry. The dentist will then place protections to keep the lips, gums and inner cheeks clean. A rubber dam will be painted on the gums. This protects the gums from the strong whitening solution, which will help to reduce sensitivity in the long run.

Then the inner cheeks and the lips will have a muco-protectant gel. This protects the tissues from the peroxide that the bleaching agent uses. Without having this protection, the cheeks or lips could burn. As the gel becomes stronger, the tissues are even more at risk.

Beginning the teeth whitening treatment

During a professional teeth whitening treatment, the gel will be activated using a laser or a light. This means that results are often very noticeable after just one appointment. The dentist will use a brush to paint the gel on the patient’s teeth. If a light is being used, it will be switched on and pointed at the gel.

The light will be left on the patient’s teeth for about 20 minutes at a time. The length of time will depend on how strong the whitening solution is. For stronger solutions, the time will be less than with weaker solutions. The light will cause the oxygen in the gel to sink deeper into the patient’s teeth. Once the right amount of time has passed, the dentist can remove the teeth whitening solution.

Visit a dentist today for teeth whitening

Professional teeth whitening can reach stains that at-home kits cannot. It is often easier for you to get whitening at your dentist’s office than at home. If you are ready for whiter teeth, then visit your dentist today. Your dentist knows the right way to protect your teeth during the treatment.

Request an appointment here: https://sonorandesertdentistry.com or call Sonoran Desert Dentistry at (480) 439-0117 for an appointment in our Scottsdale office.

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