One of the things patients wonder about the most in cosmetic services today is how to whiten teeth. According to a survey by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, almost all American adults believe an attractive smile is an important social asset and important in the workforce, but people have a lot of questions on the methods that are available to them.
Fortunately, teeth whitening is one of the easiest and most economical ways of improving your smile, and most methods are also easily acquired. But before you begin, it is important to determine what you want to achieve with whitening. After a consultation with your dentist, you can then put a together plan of action on what's best for whitening your teeth.
There are three basic methods you can use to whiten your teeth:
In-Office Whitening
This process involves making an appointment with your dentist to have a special concentrated gel applied to your teeth. It usually takes about 20-30 minutes for the gel to work, but your appointment time in the chair can last up to an hour. Since the gel may cause tooth sensitivity, the dentist may instruct you to brush your teeth with a desensitising toothpaste for some time after the appointment. The in-office whitening method may take several appointments, and the dentist may give you custom-made mouth trays with a weaker gel material to continue the process at home.