Teeth whitening is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to get your smile looking great. However, there are several different
ways to whiten your teeth, and it can be difficult deciding which method to choose from. We can take a look at three ways, and analyze the pros and cons of each:
1. Whitening Strips – Yes they work, but rather slowly. The strips are often messy and don’t stay in place at times causing the gel to contact the gums. The bleach concentration is also lower (because by the nature of being OTC) and as such, it takes longer to whiten (usually at least 3-4 weeks). So the bottom line is that they do work, but the price you pay is a much longer time of wearing them.
2. Custom Whitening Trays – Custom bleaching trays are the next option. This involves taking impressions of your mouth and having custom bleaching trays made. The bleach supplied is also a higher concentration. Custom whitening trays offer 3 main advantages: much better fit (and so much better compliance on your end in regards to wearing them), higher bleach concentrations because it comes prescribed from a dentist’s office and closer adaptation of the bleaching material to your teeth.
3. In-Office Whitening – This will give you the quickest results. Typically we can give you 2 week’s worth of results in about 1 hour. We place very strong bleach on your teeth with a barrier around your gums to protect them. You sit back, turn the lights down and relax listening to soft music while the treatment is being performed. If you are impatient to get whiter teeth, this is definitely the way to go. If I needed my teeth whitened today, this is the route I would take.
Finding good quality dental care can be difficult. It’s helpful to find a dentist in your area that offers the latest technology and has a full staff to help you in any way. A good example is Lembo-Montgomery Cosmetic and Family Dentistry, a dentist in Mooresville NC.