Is Professional Teeth Whitening for Me?

Smiling is a fundamental aspect of human interaction. Whether we are meeting new people, saying, “Hello,” to our loved ones or simply greeting a stranger, we smile. For some people, though, smiling is a source of insecurity. If you have issues with the color of your smile, teeth whitening may be a great option for you.

What Is Teeth Whitening?

“Teeth whitening” is a term that refers to the use of any products intended to whiten your teeth. While some people simply chew whitening gum to slightly improve the shade of their teeth, others prefer professional services to dramatically improve the whiteness of their teeth.

Why Teeth Whitening?

If you find that you are self-conscious about smiling and would like brighter, whiter teeth, teeth whitening is an excellent option for you. Because smiling is involved in so many person-to-person interactions, it can be difficult to not be able to smile as brilliantly as you could. This can cause awkwardness during interactions—which can in turn negatively impact your mood. 

Many patients find that by simply whitening their teeth, they are able to smile without any anxiety—improving their mood and boosting their confidence. 

Over-the-Counter Whitening

There are a few different options for whitening—some of which that are over-the-counter, and others that require the help of a professional. Some over-the-counter options include:

For some people, these are enough to provide the whiteness they are looking for. For other people, over-the-counter options don’t provide the changes they are hoping to achieve. 

Professional Whitening

Professional whitening is an excellent option for people that don’t find success with over-the-counter treatments, or want to ensure that they get the shade of whiteness that they are looking for quickly. Professional whitening treatments involve the supervision of a dentist, and may also involve certain services that are provided directly from the dentist to the patient. 

In-office treatments sometimes require the use of a special laser by the dentist that help with the whitening process. With the help of this laser, dentists are able to whiten a patient’s teeth by up to five shades whiter in one procedure. At-home treatments, on the other hand, simply require the supervision of a dentist, and the help of the dentist to create a custom tray for their patient. From there, the patient takes home their custom tray and the bleaching solution to administer the whitening treatment at home. While both of these options provide excellent results, they vary both in time frame and in price. 

Is Professional Whitening Right for Me?

If you have tried over-the-counter whitening treatments and they haven’t whitened your teeth as much as you would have liked them to, you may want to consider a professional whitening service. Set an appointment with a cosmetic dentist for a consultation to see if you are a good candidate for professional teeth whitening. If you are, they will discuss the different options that they offer, and which options may be right for you.

Renaissance Dental Center, in Raleigh NC, offers professional teeth whitening. Contact our office today to start your consult or schedule your services today.

If you're just interested in learning more about teeth whitening, here's some additional reading on the differences between in office whitening and trays.