Many people wonder, can you really tell the difference between whitening your teeth with over the counter products versus having them whitened at your dentist office. Want to know a little secret – you can! Here are the reasons why:
Uniform Results
The dentists at Mint Hill Dentistry will review your mouth and teeth and remove any surface stains before you begin your whitening. We will customize the whitening to your needs, providing you more uniform results. We will also give you advice on any changes you may need to make in the routine caring for teeth for best results.
Strength
The bleaching agents provided by the dental office are stronger than those in over-the-counter products. Our office offers Opalescence Tooth Whitening System, a leader in tooth whitening for more than 20 years.
Custom Fit
Our staff will create custom fit trays for your mouth allowing for an exact fit. Some over-the-counter whitening kits have mouthpieces that never fit quite right. As a result, there will be parts of your teeth not whitened leaving you with uneven coverage. Another common issue with over-the-counter trays is for the whitening agent to get onto the gums, which can cause an irritating “chemical burn.”
Whitening as Part of the Overall Treatment Plan
If you have existing dental work such as crowns or fillings on your front teeth they will NOT whiten when using a whitening system. Therefore, it is important to have a whitening “plan” with your dentist and complete “shade checks” to determine what shade you would like to achieve and when/how to replace existing fillings or crowns to match your new whiter shade.
Piece of Mind
If you have any questions about your whitening we are always here to help answer them. For example, if you have sensitivity during the process, then we will help to treat it. We can document your shade changes using digital photography over time to help achieve your overall goal.
The next thought that comes to your mind is probably the cost. Another honest answer – yes it does cost more up front to have your teeth whitened at the dentist office. But, think about the amount you may spend over time purchasing over-the-counter products over and over.
We can work with you on the cost options provided by our office to help you afford your smile. Give us a call today for your tooth whitening consultation.