Teeth Whitening Process
Find out how the whole whitening process really works.
There are different methods of whitening your teeth, each with slighly different steps involved.
Here we will give you a brief rundown on the basics of the most popular methods of teeth whitening available today, and provide a link to more detailed information.
How Does Tooth Whitening Work?
Your tooth is made up of a covering layer of enamel, and an inside layer of what is called dentin. Enamel is usually clear or translucent, while dentin is typically yellow in colour.
The basic premise is to use a form of peroxide which is applied to the teeth.
The peroxide acts as a catalyst to bleaching and serves to initiate the whitening and removal of any built up stains and discoloration. It does this by allowing the pores in the enamel to open, so that the whitening agent can sink through to the dentin underneath and whiten it.
The different methods of teeth whitening include professional whitening at the dentist, and various do-it-yourself kits such as strips, toothpastes and gels.
Teeth Whitening At The Dentist
You will need to visit the dentist at least once, and perhaps several times over a period of a few days to achieve maximum whiteness.
The cost of whitening performed by your dentist will cost on average $650 each visit. It should take no more than one hour per session. Depending on the number of sessions required, the total cost could be well over $1000.
The good thing about whitening at the dentist is that the results are almost immediate. You can leave the dentist's chair and have teeth 4 to 6 shades whiter.
How it works is that the dentist will first clean your teeth, then protect your gums with a special shield or gel before applying the bleach to your teeth. After leaving the bleach on your teeth for 15 to 20 minutes, the process is then repeated a few times. A laser light may also be used to enhance the whitening effect.
For more information please read our article on professional teeth whitening.
Teeth Whitening At Home
Teeth whitening in the comfort of your own home is a lot more convenient and also more affordable than dentist whitening.
There are two main variations of take-home whitening kits. Ones you can buy from the dentist, and over-the-counter kits bought from stores or conveniently online.
The kits sold by your dentist have a higher concentration of peroxide and cost more than over-the-counter kits. Take home kits from your dentist range from $100 to $400. Over-the-counter kits or those purchased online are around the $20 to $100 mark.
They are both applied to your teeth in similar ways. A whitening gel is used in conjuction with a mouth tray which fits to your teeth. Some over-the-counter kits may also make use of strips which you stick over the top of your teeth.
For more information please read our article on home teeth whitening.
Teeth whitening at the dentist is suitable if you have the time to schedule in dental appointments and if you don't care about the cost. Home whitening kits are perfect if you want glowing white teeth without leaving the comfort of your home, and at a much more affordable price.
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