What is Teeth Whitening and What Does It Costs? Explained

Teeth whitening is a popular therapy of cosmetic dentistry, helping many people enhance the looks of their teeth and smile by getting them whitened in a relatively quick, non-invasive, and affordable technique. Universally acknowledged by men and women, teeth whitening and bleaching treatments help satisfy every budget, temperament, and timeframe.

When considering teeth whitening near me, you might need clarification to decide whether you should whiten your teeth with bleaching or whitening remedies available in drugstores and supermarkets. Your confusion might compound itself when every product on supermarket shelves or drugstores claims it is the best technique to whiten teeth comfortably and affordably.

The American Dental Association doesn’t recommend using over-the-counter teeth whitening remedies unless advised by a dentist’s near you to minimize harm to your teeth from unnecessary sensitivity. In addition, as a layperson, you wouldn’t know how whitening treatments work because you would concentrate on the prices of the therapy without looking at its functioning. This article provides the difference between teeth whitening and bleaching to make you aware of their functioning and which treatment you should choose to whiten your teeth safely without inviting complications.

The Difference between Whitening and Bleaching

The FDA confirms using the term bleaching is permitted only in situations where your teeth need whitening beyond their natural shade. Bleaching indicates the ingredients used for teeth whitening contain hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.

On the other hand, teeth whitening merely involves restoring the tooth’s surface color by helping remove dirt and debris. Therefore technically, any product that helps remove surface stains, like whitening toothpaste, is considered whitening instead of bleaching. However, the term whitening and bleaching are interchangeably used by most people, who think it is convenient.

Working of Whitening Treatments

Whether you want to whiten your teeth using bleaching ingredients or toothpaste, you find it beneficial to discuss your needs with your dentist to determine which staining affects your teeth. You must get your teeth examined primarily for two reasons. For example, you might have extrinsic staining on your tooth surfaces resulting from eating, smoking, and having acidic foods or teeth grinding which erodes tooth enamel to make them appear discolored. Surface stains are comfortably removable using whitening toothpaste frequently but require patience and time to appear brighter than bleaching treatments.

Unfortunately, if you have intrinsic stains on your teeth due to aging, drugs and chemicals, infections, and injuries, and by having pigmented foods, you find it beneficial to seek bleaching treatments from dentists as professional teeth whitening. Bleaching treatments deliver faster results whitening teeth in a couple of appointments depending on the intensity of the staining but improve the existing shade of your teeth by 3 to 8 in one meeting with the dentist. Therefore if you desire instant results, you must consider the latter option for optimal benefits.

Using whitening toothpaste after consulting your dentist is not challenging as long as you adhere to your dentist’s advice and use the suggested toothpaste a couple of times every week when brushing. Whitening toothpaste contains abrasive agents helpful in removing extrinsic stains on your teeth and gradually improving their shade with regular use.

If you need teeth whitening with intrinsic stains, whitening toothpaste will not prove beneficial because the toothpaste is ineffective against stains on the internal surfaces of your teeth. Therefore you must consider teeth whitening in Farmington as the optimal option to whiten your teeth and have a better smile on the day of your appointment with the dental practice.

Professional teeth whitening isn’t scary or requires anesthesia or drilling. Instead, the dentist completes the therapy in approximately 90 minutes after cleaning your teeth and giving you four applications of hydrogen peroxide over your teeth after protecting the mouth’s soft tissues. You must endure the inconvenience of sitting in the dentist’s chair with your mouth open for over an hour to instantly benefit from a brighter smile instead of waiting for days or months before the whitening toothpaste delivers results.

As you complete your treatment, you receive fluoride therapy to prevent tooth sensitivity, besides advice for using desensitizing toothpaste for a few days if your teeth feel sensitive from the bleaching.

How Much Does Teeth Whitening treatment Cost?

The teeth whitening costs differ for every patient and depend on the staining on their teeth and any other conditions affecting them. However, you can expect to spend 50 or $ 100 for over-the-counter whitening remedies instead of a few hundred for professional therapies from qualified dentists. You help yourself by understanding that the staining on your teeth determines which treatment suits your needs better. The best professional to confirm your equipment is your dentist, with accurate knowledge about your dental anatomy and the staining affecting your teeth.

Mark V DiMartino, DDS, provides teeth whitening treatments in Farmington at the dental practice delivering better results in one or two appointments depending on the severity of your tooth stains. Please consult with the practice today to understand teeth whitening comprehensively with its working and costs and receive your treatment from the practice without anxiety.