Although dental insurance does not usually cover professional teeth whitening, few dental treatments provide a confidence boost to your natural smile like this procedure. You may consider store-bought whitening kits as an option, but you should think again. Whitening provided in your dentist’s office offers many benefits that make it an affordable choice with better results. For your own brighter smile, talk to your Columbus, OH dentist at South High Dental about dental services that include whitening options.
Why Undergo Professional Teeth Whitening in Columbus Ohio?
Professional teeth whitening provides far better results than any store-bought kit. It usually takes only one or two visits to gain the results you want, whereas store kits take weeks longer. In-office whitening also ensures greater safety, less wear on your enamel, and longer lasting brightening.
Your dentist performs teeth whitening with the skills necessary in order to avoid injuring your gums or other soft tissues. The process involves several steps. At the end of these steps, you have a smile you are proud to show off, one you do not have to wait to enjoy.
The Whitening Process
Before starting the whitening process, your dentist selects the optimum shade of white for your smile. After doing so, they polish your teeth with a grainy substance that removes plaque and other debris from your teeth’s surface. Most dentists use a retractor to gently pull your lips, cheeks, and tongue away from your teeth to protect these tissues from chemicals.
Your dentist or hygienist then places a gum barrier to protect your gumline from the whitening solution. He or she coats your teeth with the solution, which contains a type of peroxide as the active bleaching agent. For some of these processes, dentist use a curing light or laser while the peroxide works for about 30 minutes to an hour.
When your teeth achieve the chosen shade of white, you rinse your mouth. Some people receive a fluoride application to ease sensitivity. If you don’t achieve the desired results in one visit, you schedule another appointment to go through the process again.
After Your Tooth Whitening Appointment
Although you go directly back to your daily routine after whitening, you must avoid high-pigment foods and beverages for 24 to 48 hours. You should not drink coffee, tea, tomato juice, beet juice, grape juice, red wine, or dark sodas. You should also refrain from eating tomato sauce, mustard, beets, black grapes, or candies. Of course, you must also avoid smoking or using tobacco during this time.
At-Home Professional Teeth Whitening Kits
If you prefer an at-home kit to whitening services in the dentist’s office, your dentist can provide some alternatives to store-bought brands. These professional kits provide users with better results than kits bought from a store.
For professional at-home teeth whitening, your dentist makes a mold of your teeth for dental lab crafting of custom-fitted mouth trays. In about a week, you receive your custom trays. You use these in the privacy of your own home with a special solution the dentist provides. After about two weeks of daily hour-long use, you achieve whiter teeth for the confident smile you seek, at a lower cost than the office procedure.
Professional Teeth Whitening Columbus Ohio
Your Columbus, Ohio dentist at South High Dental provides professional teeth whitening and other dental services. These services include:
- General dentistry
- Dental care for adults and kids
- Cosmetic dentistry services
- Oral surgery
- CEREC Same-Day Crowns and onlays
- CEREC
In the high tech office of South High Dental, you gain access to many of the services you need for the smile you want. You also benefit from convenient scheduling and short wait times, to ensure you do not use your precious vacation time for dental visits. Contact South High Dental now at 614-363-2462 for teeth whitening and all of your dental needs.