Teeth Whitening
Professional Teeth Whitening
Did you always want whiter teeth and a brighter smile? No doubt that brighter teeth make you look younger and healthier. It is highly important that you seek professional advice from a dentist before proceeding with any kind of teeth whitening process, whether it be at home or at a dental practice. Teeth staining can be very different in their cause and nature which teeth whitening may not necessarily be the answer. Teeth whitening products contain Carbamide Peroxide or Hydrogen Peroxide and come in different strengths. Contact Shire Doctors and Dentists for whiter teeth.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
In-Office teeth whitening is for people who want instant whitening gratification or those who have that special event coming up and are after pearly whites. A hydrogen peroxide-based whitening gel is applied to the enamel of your teeth and the light is exposed to the teeth to accelerate the whitening process. This light aid helps penetrate the surface of the tooth and accelerates the activation of the hydrogen peroxide. This procedure is typically completed within 60-90 minutes. Our in-office teeth whitening gel is the highest strength and is not available behind the counter.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
Take-home whitening gel allows you to get professional whitening results at the comfort of your own home using a safe, effective, and customized way. After the initial evaluation, your dentist at Shire Doctors and Dentists will take an impression of your current teeth to prepare a customised bleaching tray. Your custom tray will be ready within 5 days and will be issued to you along with the appropriate bleaching kit. Your dentist will then give you detailed instruction on how to use the kit at home.
Professional teeth whitening vs. over the counter teeth whitening products
The availability and access we have to generic teeth whitening products and the at-home process is appealing to many, but the damage they can cause is indescribable. With continued use of these generic teeth whitening products, patients may see some minor results with these whitening systems. But their simple access can also lead to using to product way too much and the long term use may be harmful to your teeth. The consistency of behind the counter gels is also often thinner than professional whitening gels, running between the teeth and causing painful irritation to the gums. These products are time-consuming and inconsistent. In fact, many people give up before completing their treatments because the solutions taste bad, get too messy and do not provide the expected results. If your teeth are crooked or rotated, you may not get the results you want. Furthermore, decay or recession can complicate matters by increasing sensitivity. In any case, professional teeth whitening by your dentist is the safest and best option for your smile.
Under our professional supervision at Shire Doctors and Dentists, our whitening technique is safe for your teeth and gums and results are usually achieved within a number of days. Professional whitening uses a stronger substance that works effectively and in a shorter timeframe. This means you won’t be wasting money on behind the counter store brought products and waiting around for results that may disappoint.
Hydrogen Peroxide vs. Carbamide Peroxide
Teeth whitening is done with one of two active ingredients: carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. Carbamide peroxide contains hydrogen peroxide at a ratio of 1:3. For example, a product with 30% carbamide peroxide has about 10% hydrogen peroxide. They both produce the same results.
There is no difference in sensitivity and there is no difference in rebound after teeth whitening with hydrogen peroxide vs carbamide peroxide. Rebound is where the teeth appear lighter immediately after using teeth whitening, but then lose some brilliance after a short time has passed. Rebound is more to do with dehydration than peroxide levels. Whitening gels like Opalescence contain a higher water content and will help to prevent rebound caused by dehydration.
Hydrogen peroxide deteriorates faster than carbamide peroxide, so it releases most of its whitening power within 30–60 minutes. Carbamide peroxide, on the other hand, releases about 50% of its whitening power in the first two hours and can remain active for up to six additional hours. This means that products using hydrogen peroxide have shorter wear times. However, the number of days a person must have available to use either one depends not on hydrogen peroxide vs. carbamide peroxide, but on the individual’s unique preference and rate of tooth colour change. Products with carbamide peroxide have a slightly longer shelf life than those with hydrogen peroxide, although when refrigerated, all peroxide products have an increased shelf life.
Contact our team at Shire Doctors and Dentists and one of our friendly staff members will be more than happy to assist you with your teeth whitening treatment.