What Makes Professional Teeth Whitening Different?
There’s nothing like a pearly white smile to help you feel attractive and confident. The problem is that many dental patients seek a quick, easy-to-access whitening treatment in the form of store-bought whitening kits.
While these products are often cheap and easy to use, they usually take multiple attempts to work and seldom provide the brightening effects patients are looking for. Because patients tend to use these products without consulting a dentist first, there is also an increased risk of damaging their enamel, irritating their gums, and higher levels of post-whitening tooth sensitivity.
For these reasons, our dentist, Dr. Schumacher recommends professional teeth whitening. Not only is professional teeth whitening considered one of the safest dental procedures, it drastically reduces your chances of damaged enamel, minimizes post whitening-sensitivity, and delivers vastly superior whitening results.
Explore how professional teeth whitening eliminates tough stains in as little as 45 minutes in our guide below.
LED Assisted Teeth Whitening
LED assisted teeth whitening is an in-office procedure available from Dr. Schumacher. This form of teeth whitening uses LED technology to help bring internal stains, which lay below the surface of your enamel, to the surface where they can be eliminated alongside external stains, which lay on top of your enamel.
This method also makes use of strengthening whitening gel, which reinforces your enamel, making your teeth stronger and less prone to sensitivity. Best of all, you can walk out of our office with your new smile the same day, because this procedure takes less than an hour!
Here’s what to expect:
Step 1: Consultation
Before you get your teeth professionally whitened, you’ll have a consultation with Dr. Schumacher. He’ll examine your mouth, discuss your medical history, and your smile goals with you to ensure that you’re a good candidate for teeth whitening.
It may be necessary to treat underlying issues like cavities before you can safely and comfortably have your teeth whitened.
Step 2: Preparing Your Mouth
Before your whitening procedure, we’ll deep clean your teeth. This gives the whitening gel a cleaner surface to adhere to, making the treatment more effective. Once your teeth are clean, we’ll apply protective gauze to your lips and gums before brushing them with our special whitening gel.
Step 2: The Whitening Process
We’ll activate the whitening gel by exposing it to LED rays, helping it penetrate your enamel and dissolve stains. We’ll repeat this process in 15 minute sessions up to three more times, checking the progress between sessions until we get your desired shade. Most patients get the results they want in less than an hour.
Laser Teeth Whitening
For patients who require a more precise treatment, Dr. Schumacher offers laser teeth whitening. Laser teeth whitening is an in-office whitening procedure that uses lasers to spot clean your teeth.
Patients who choose this method may have a dental restoration that can’t be whitened and want a certain selection of teeth whitened to avoid dramatic differences between their teeth. It’s also used to improve the appearance of a singular stained tooth.
Laser teeth whitening is very similar to LED assisted, the main difference is that lasers are used to activate the whitening gel instead. This gives us pinpoint accuracy when we’re whitening your teeth, allowing us to avoid any unwanted areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Teeth whitening exposes the dentin layer of your teeth that houses living tissue and nerves. When this layer is exposed and comes into contact with bleaching agents, you may experience pain and sensitivity.
Professional whitening reduces your chances of post-whitening sensitivity, although some sensitivity is normal and usually fades within a few days.
Dr. Schumacher recommends these tips for managing post whitening sensitivity:
- Use tooth mousse
- Coat your teeth in vitamin e-oil
- Take an over the counter analgesic
- Use a toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth
- Avoid hot and cold drinks for three days after your whitening procedure
If you experience sensitivity in your teeth lasting more than three days, call our office in Farmington, NM by dialing (505) 327-4863 or fill out the contact form as soon as possible. We’ll do our best to solve any issues you may be having.
When performed by dental professionals, these procedures are considered safe and effective. During both procedures, we’ll protect your lips, gums and tongue with protective gauze and plastic barriers. During LED assisted teeth whitening, we’ll protect your eyes with goggles.
Talk to Dr. Schumacher about any concerns you may have during your consultation and he’ll inform you about all of your options.
To maintain your new smile, Dr. Schumacher recommends following these tips:
- Avoid certain foods and drinks that are likely to stain your teeth. Some of these include red wine, coffee, tea, blueberries, and curry.
- Avoid smoking and using tobacco products, as they can leave nicotine stains and cause your teeth to appear yellow.
- Maintain your oral hygiene by brushing your teeth for two minutes at least twice a day, flossing at least once a day, and attending bi-annual dental exams with Dr. Schumacher.
Professional Teeth Whitening For Safe, Stunning Results
At Desert Hills Dental Care, we want our patients to know that professional teeth whitening is worth it. Not only will you get predictably brilliant results, you’ll also be able to avoid damaging your enamel through overuse of products. Your teeth whitening procedure will be supervised by a dental professional who understands your unique oral health needs, providing a safe, comfortable experience.
Your smile is one of your most valuable possessions, so treat it accordingly by avoiding cheap, ineffective, and potentially harmful store bought whitening treatments. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Schumacher, contact our office in Farmington, NM by dialing (505) 327-4863 or fill out our contact form. With professional teeth whitening, you can walk out of our office with more confidence and a smile you’ll be eager to show off!