Teeth whitening is a fast, painless way to help enhance your smile, and there are whitening options available to satisfy every budget and time frame. Teeth whitening works; virtually everyone who undergoes treatment will see moderate to substantial improvement in the brightness and whiteness of their smile. There are two main options: in-office whitening and professional take-home whitening kits.

In-Office Whitening

In-office teeth whitening is a popular cosmetic dental procedure. In-office whitening is a safe whitening method, and no other procedure produces faster results. Gum and tooth sensitivity were formerly drawbacks to the procedure, however today thicker peroxide gels and the use of desensitizers correct this issue. In-office whitening also removes stains caused by aging, consumption of certain foods (coffee, sodas, red wine, dark-colored vegetables and fruits, etc), and tobacco use.

In-office whitening only takes about an hour. First a paint-on rubber dam is applied to the gums to protect them from the peroxide bleaching gel. This gel is more concentrated than the take-home versions, and it can irritate the gum tissue. With the Zoom! Whitening system the hydrogen peroxide gel is applied three times, in 15-minute intervals. The Zoom! Advanced Power Chairside Lamp is used after the whitening gel has been applied to accelerate the whitening process.

Take-Home Whitening Kits

Professional take-home whitening kits may take longer than in-office whitening, however they can produce just as satisfying results over the long term. Take-home whitening is also quite convenient because it can be done at any time of day or night, for shorter or extended periods. These kits are also superior to over the counter whitening methods because they contain higher percentages of bleach, while still remaining safe and easy to use.

The take-home whitening kits consist of comfortable, custom-fitted application trays made of flexible plastic. These trays help to keep the bleaching gel in contact with the teeth, they prevent saliva from diluting the gel, and they minimize the amount of gel that comes into contact with the gums (which could cause minor irritation). The kits also come with the bleaching gel, which is stored in syringes and is applied to the trays prior to each use.

Generally it only takes two quick office visits: one to take impressions for your custom trays, and another to pick up the trays and whitening gel. After a few weeks of using the trays for just a couple of hours per night, you'll be well on your way to a whiter, brighter smile.