Whitening strips, trays, toothpastes, and gels… Dentist-prescribed home whitening… Zoom! Whitening in one office visit. Which is best? Which one is right for you?
When considering any tooth whitening option, it is critical that your dentist help you decide if you are a candidate for bleaching prior to using any of the systems. Certain teeth that have bonding, crowns, veneers or even deep intrinsic staining may not bleach and can actually lead to a more pronounced variation in color from one tooth to another! A thorough exam and cleaning is routinely performed before bleaching to be sure their are no cavities that can become sensitive if they are not restored before the bleach gel is used. We also want to be sure tartar and superficial stains are removed before bleaching to ensure best results.
Over the counter or non-custom whitening: For mild tooth enamel stains caused from foods and beverages, tobacco, and age, the strips, trays, toothpastes, and gels you can purchase at your local pharmacy or dental office may work well. Most contain about 10% carbamide peroxide, and you can select the system that you prefer. Sometimes these systems are recommended for younger teenagers when teeth are more prone to becoming sensitive or when jaw growth is still taking place and custom fitted trays will not fit long term. If you ‘re unsatisfied with the results from over-the-counter products, talk with Dr. Kobak about dentist-prescribed home whitening or one-visit whitening. These systems are more potent and can brighten teeth by many shades. Stains that don’t respond well to over-the-counter teeth whitening may vanish with prescription whitening.
Prescription home whitening:This is the most common bleaching procedure used in Dr. Kobak’s office, where custom fitted bleach trays are designed to be worn at home. These custom trays keep a strong, safe bleaching gel close to tooth enamel, while keeping out saliva. Some people prefer to whiten on their commute to work, while others like whitening at home before bed. Dr. Kobak usually suggests wearing the trays for one to two hours per night. Many patients see results after just one day of treatment, but ten days to two weeks of treatment is recommended for optimal results. Keep your trays and purchase refills of the whitening gel from our office whenever your smile needs a touch up. The impressions and trays are all done on premises enabling the cost for this technique to be kept reasonable.
Zoom! Whitening in the office: For quickest results, Zoom! Whitening is best. If you want to brighten your smile before a special event or you just don’t have time to wear bleaching trays every day, light-activated Zoom! will give you a brighter smile in a single visit. This technique involves about 1 1/2 – 2 hours in the dental office and will obtain similar results as using the custom bleach trays, only quicker.
As a cosmetic dentist, Dr. Kobak serves patients from Long Island and the surrounding areas in his Syosset Dental office. Call today to reserve your consultation, and you could have a whiter smile tomorrow!
