What is tooth whitening?
Tooth whitening involves using a material on your teeth to remove surface stains. This removal of stains reveals the white enamel of your teeth, resulting in a bright smile.
Does teeth whitening damage the enamel?
No, one of the best parts about whitening is that it doesn't damage your enamel. Despite common worries, it's one of the safest ways to whiten your teeth without causing any long-term effects.
How is teeth whitening done at Renew Dental?
At our office, patients use custom trays made specifically for them. They add whitening material into these trays and wear them for a certain amount of days and time. Gradually, the surface stain gets removed, leading to the desired result.
How do at-home products compare to professional teeth whitening?
At-home products are typically not as strong, and patients often lose interest due to the amount of time it takes to see results. Additionally, there is a risk of buying a product that's not safe for your teeth, resulting in more sensitivity and other issues.
Is teeth whitening a permanent solution?
Whitening is not permanent, results typically last about 6 to 12 months. This duration can vary based on lifestyle factors like the consumption of coffee, tea, or smoking. However, with an initial phase and regular maintenance every 6 to 12 months, the results can be maintained long-term.
Do patients experience sensitivity after whitening?
Yes, it's common to experience temporary sensitivity after whitening. This usually lasts for a couple of days and can be managed with Advil or Tylenol.
How can the results of whitening be maintained?
The best way to retain the results is by avoiding things that stain your teeth like coffee, tea, red wine, and smoking. Regular cleanings also prevent the return of stains by removing bacteria and stain from your teeth.
How can patients schedule a teeth whitening appointment at Renew Dental?
We can schedule a teeth whitening appointment anytime. But, we prefer to do an exam and cleaning first to ensure there are no cavities. Jumping right into whitening with existing cavities can lead to extreme sensitivity and pain.
Do you offer any special programs for teeth whitening at Renew Dental?
Yes, we offer a Renew Your Smile Lifetime Whitening Program. After completing an exam and x-rays and fixing any cavities, we make custom trays for you. We send you home with a starter whitening kit to get your teeth to that nice white smile. From there, we provide a free whitening gel at routine cleanings to help maintain your results.
How can interested patients contact you?
If you're interested in learning more or scheduling an appointment, please call us at (204) 817-6768.
Hey, I'm Dr. Bryan DiMarco here at Renew Dental. We get a lot of questions from our patients about teeth whitening. I'm here today to answer a few of the most common questions and hopefully give you a better understanding of teeth whitening.
Dr. Bryan, what's the safest way to whiten your teeth?
Doing teeth whitening through a dentist is going to be the safest way to whiten your teeth. When we do teeth whitening, we are simply breaking down the outer stain on the surface of the tooth. Tooth whitening is actually not doing anything to damage the tooth structure underneath, which is ideal. The best thing is to do it at a dentist because we use regulated products that have been certified by Health Canada, ensuring the procedure won't hurt your tooth or damage your mouth.
Does whitening teeth have any side effects?
The good thing with whitening, because all we're doing is simply breaking down that built-up layer of stain and debris on the outside of the tooth, is that we're not damaging the tooth structure itself. One of the main side effects, however, is that you will likely experience some sensitivity in your teeth for a few days after whitening. The good news is that this sensitivity usually only lasts a couple of days, after which your teeth will feel normal again.
How is professional teeth whitening done?
Generally, there are two main methods. At our office, we take a 3D scan of your mouth to make custom whitening trays. We then give you a product to use at home. You apply a small amount of product into the trays and wear them for about 45 minutes a day. This is typically done for anywhere from 5 to 14 days until you achieve the desired results. The other common method is in-office whitening, where you undergo the procedure in a 2 or 3-hour session. We don't offer this at our office because it often results in significant sensitivity and discomfort for patients. Thus, we only provide at-home whitening, which tends to yield a better experience for our patients.
Why is teeth whitening best done at the dentist's office?
The reason is that dental offices use materials certified for tooth whitening. Many off-market or store-bought products may not have the same quality of ingredients, which could lead to other, less desirable side effects.
What are the pros and cons of teeth whitening?
Some of the pros include it being a very safe and easy method to make your teeth brighter and whiter. Another benefit is that it usually costs less than other dental procedures such as veneers or bonding. The main downside is the temporary sensitivity experienced during whitening. However, this discomfort only lasts a couple of days, and once the whitening treatment stops, the sensitivity disappears within about 2 to 3 days.
How many times can you whiten your teeth professionally?
Generally, we recommend an initial whitening session lasting from 5 to 14 days to achieve desired results. After that, if you are part of our lifetime whitening program, you receive a touch-up whitening kit during your regular cleanings. You can whiten for about two to three days to restore results to their post-initial phase state. This routine every six months helps maintain the brightness and whiteness of your teeth.
How can I extend the results of a teeth whitening treatment?
Some main ways include avoiding certain foods or substances that stain teeth. For example, reducing coffee, tea, and red wine consumption can help, as these contain high levels of staining components. Smoking is another factor that causes whitening treatments not to last long. Avoiding these can generally extend the lifespan or results of your whitening.
When can I schedule a teeth whitening appointment?
You can schedule that at any time. If you are new to the office, we first conduct an exam to check the health of your teeth. Whitening teeth with untreated cavities, for example, can increase sensitivity and discomfort. Once we've addressed any issues and confirmed your teeth are healthy, we can schedule a scan for the whitening at any point.
I hope I was able to answer some of your questions about tooth whitening. If you have any further questions or are interested in getting tooth whitening done, please feel free to reach out to our office at (204) 817-6768 and we'd be happy to help.