Teeth Whitening: Benefits & Risks

You’ve probably noticed a lot of teeth whitening services being delivered right to your door.

How convenient?

This is optimal for busy people that just don’t have the time to visit their dentists, although I would recommend that you visit your dental care provider as often as possible. The downfall of these over-the-counter products is that they do not manage to address tough, stubborn stains that you may have had for several years.

Benefits of Teeth Whitening At Your Dentist’s Office

We can imagine teeth whitening at the dentist’s office similar to power washing the toughest stains on the side of your home. The major benefit of in-office teeth whitening is that it will make your teeth several shades whiter. In certain cases, there may be a need to make a couple more visits to remove deep stains.

Believe it or not, teeth whitening procedures can take only an hour at a time. You can certainly stop by during your lunch hours to have you smiling brightly for the rest of the day.

One of the major benefits that many people can agree upon is the amount of self-confidence our patients gain after having their teeth whitened. While stains on your teeth can arise for various reasons, many would agree to prefer having whitened teeth over stained teeth.

Risks of Teeth Whitening

One of the common complaints from patients who have had teeth whitening is increased sensitivity for the first two days after treatment. This can be unpleasant and stop you from enjoying your favorite snacks, but we can help you bear with it by applying a desensitizer.

While there are concerns about the bleaching agent negatively affecting the enamel of the tooth structure, there isn’t enough evidence to support that claim.

How Often Should I Get Teeth Whitening?

There’s no specific guideline similar to one that suggests patients visit dentists at least twice a year for cleaning and examination. One should be mindful of the increased sensitivity that comes with every treatment.

Getting your teeth whitened every month may not be the most pleasant experience.

A Caveat to Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is only effective on natural teeth. This procedure will not work on veneers, crowns, implants, etc.

Typically, your dentist will make sure that the veneer or crown matches the color of the surrounding teeth. This way, you won’t have to worry about one sticking out.

If you are looking to get your teeth whitened along with any dental procedure that will result in an artificial tooth, consult with your dentist to see what the best options are.

Depending on the situation, some may suggest having the teeth whitening done prior to the treatment.

John Powers DMD – Greenbelt Family and Wellness Dentist

John Powers DMD provides exceptional restorative and cosmetic dental care to all of our patients. We empower our patients by educating them as much as they’d like on their options of dental care. Visit our site to make an appointment (https://johnpowersdmd.com).