What Should You Do?
The Dilemma
So…you want whiter teeth. You’re probably asking yourself, “Where do I start?” Should I get something over the counter? What about those places in the mall? Should I talk to my dentist? Does it really work? To answer the later, yes they work, but to varying degrees. There are so many variables for the consumer to consider.
The Facts
The most important thing that I tell my patients is to have reasonable expectations. Some people’s teeth whiten better than others. Anatomy, strength of enamel, age, teeth condition, how clean they are kept, etc., all play an important role in the results of teeth whitening. The costs range from $30 into the thousands, depending on where you go. Teeth with yellow and brown stains whiten better than teeth that have grey shading. The grey discoloration is usually from Tetracycline or some other type of medication.
The Options
Over-the-Counter, Under the Budget
The good news is that over-the-counter products, the least costly of teeth whitening options, do work. I’ve seen them do an amazing job on some patients. Some would argue that they don’t fit well on teeth that are misaligned, misshapen, or crooked. The formulation of the products is similar to what we dispense in our office, but at a much lower concentration. They work; they just take longer. Not a bad way to start out—especially if cost is an issue.
Whitening…in the mall?
“Mall Whitening”- buyer beware of these types of places! They’ve managed to find a loophole in our legal system to be able to provide dental service without a board license. Dealing with LED lights (laser lights), saliva, infection control, bleaching products, etc. in the hands of an unlicensed dental person just seems wrong to me. Say what you will about this, in my humble opinion, I wouldn’t want anyone other than a licensed professional trained to deal with patients in a sterile clinical setting. These types of set-ups won’t last. They are already disappearing from the malls and other shopping venues….
Should I talk to my dentist?
Absolutely! A thorough examination and discussion will help a person decide what option is best suited for them. We offer a free consultation on anything related to smile enhancing.
What will my dentist offer me?
In our office, we use the Zoom laser whitening system and there are three whitening solutions that we offer:
- The first one is a disposable system that works much better than the over-the-counter system and only costs a little bit more.
- The middle of the road option is making custom trays with the use of a syringe whitening gel system.
- The high-end immediate result option is the in-office whitening procedure.
As a recap, do what works for you! It may take a few attempts to get it right. Have reasonable expectations and if you’re not sure what to do, talk to your dentist.
New Patient Special!
During the month of July & August, we are offering all new patients of record 50% off all whitening systems. This includes disposable kits, custom trays, or Zoom whitening! Call for details!