Risks of Teeth Whitening
Bright, white teeth are a major confidence booster—and can mean the difference between smiling wide and constantly hiding your teeth behind your lips. If you find that you are shying away from smiling because of the shade of your teeth, you’ll want to consider different whitening solutions—including professional whitening.
What Is Professional Teeth Whitening?
Professional whitening is a procedure performed and/or supervised by a dentist that whitens a patient’s teeth. If you want significantly whiter teeth that is beyond what whitening toothpaste or mouthwash is able to accomplish, professional whitening is for you.
What Are the Benefits of Teeth Whitening?
While teeth whitening is purely cosmetic, it can actually be great for a patient’s mental health. Smiling more can actually boost mood, and can lead to higher levels of self-confidence. Many patients find that, after they’ve had their teeth whitened, they are able to better interact with others in a positive way. Many patients also notice a significant boost in their confidence, as they take pride in their whiter teeth.
What Is the Professional Whitening Procedure?
If you are considering professional whitening, you’ll likely be given two different options—at-home or in-office whitening. Both are excellent choices and both can provide amazing results. Still, the two options are a bit different, and they both have advantages and disadvantages.
In-office whitening is an excellent choice for patients that don’t mind spending a little extra money to have nearly instantaneous results. In-office whitening is done using a special whitening solution and/or a laser that helps the teeth to whiten significantly in just one trip. Many patients find that they only need one session to see the results that they were looking for. The main downside is the cost, which can be around $500 per session.
At-home whitening is another excellent professional whitening option, and can provide the same level of results. The main difference is that the patient will be responsible for administering the whitening agent at home. While at-home treatment takes longer and requires more of the patient to manage, it is also less costly (generally around $250).
What Are the Risks?
Like with any procedure, there are risks involved with professional teeth whitening. One of the biggest risks is the effect that whitening can have on your teeth. Some patients do not have strong enough enamel to support the whitening procedure. While a dentist should be able to tell whether or not your teeth can support the procedure, this is still a risk.
Also, some patients don’t see the level of results that they were hoping for, for the cost they spent. It’s important to note that one round of treatments may not be enough and that—no matter what—whitening is not permanent.
Speak with Your Dentist
If you are considering professional whitening, speak with your dentist about what the risks and benefits of professional teeth whitening are. From there, you can make an informed decision about whether whitening is 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 information on determining whether or not you need professional whitening.