Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening in West Orange, NJ is any process that will make teeth appear whiter, typically using a peroxide-based bleaching or whitening agent. Usually, the peroxide will be either carbamide-peroxide or hydrogen-peroxide.

Depending on the best process for you, you may receive additional treatment outside of this bleaching. Your dentist can help by sanding down stains, using ultraviolet (UV) light therapy, performing cleanings and deep cleanings, and making additional recommendations for oral care based on your needs and lifestyle.

Teeth whitening in West Orange, NJ can work in a couple of different ways, depending on whether you get treatment in your dental office or home.

Teeth Whitening in the Dentist’s Office

In our dental office, your teeth’s gums and roots will be covered by a protective barrier, ensuring safety for those areas. Your dentist will also use a plastic retractor device to hold your lips and cheeks out of the way during treatment. From here, your dentist will apply hydrogen peroxide gel at a professional strength, which will be left on for approximately an hour. Results will likely be noticeable once the gel and tools are removed.

Teeth Whitening at Home

You can also receive great results if you whiten your teeth at home. However, outside of a professional and clinical environment, reaching your personal teeth whitening goals will take longer. This is because using professional-strength whiteners without the appropriate protective equipment will be unsafe.

Your dentist can create a mold of your teeth so your treatment can be personalized to you. The mold will be used to form two thin and flexible plastic mouth trays, one for the bottom and one for the top set of teeth. These trays are filled with whitening gel, at which point you can place them over your teeth. You will want to leave these trays in for about an hour at each treatment time.

If you work with a professional during tooth whitening, the process should be safe. This is because experienced and qualified personnel will have input during the entire process, along with the opportunity to ensure you know how to care for your teeth during and after treatments.

On the other hand, over-the-counter whitening systems are less safe. Many of these types of teeth whiteners are far too strong, with chemicals that are too intense to be completely safe. Bleaching and abrasion chemicals in these kits can significantly damage your teeth. In particular, you may damage the enamel of your teeth, which can not be replaced or fixed in another way.

Depending on the method you select, teeth whitening results will vary. Store-bought whitening kits may only last a handful of months and then wane. However, you are much more likely to have longer lasting results when you work with a professional.

Teeth whitening in West Orange, NJ is performed with the oversight of a professional or performed by a qualified dentist can last between six months and three years. While getting professional teeth whitening will likely be more expensive, it is undoubtedly a good investment when you want a lighter and brighter smile.

Not only does the whitening last longer with professional oversight, but you are also able to protect your enamel and oral health better.