Teeth Whitening: Before and After Results

Teeth Whitening: Before and After Results

29th October 2020

Everyone’s smile is precious, and so is yours. And today, it’s as easy to get pearl-white teeth as it is to buy groceries. Teeth whitening procedures are completely safe and effective if you get them from a professional. Thanks to the BDA, the UK has been evaporated by fake professionals, and only authorized dental practitioners such as Natural Smiles can perform it.

Let’s see what happens inside the dentist’s office once you decide to get the teeth whitening procedure.

What happens before the treatment?

Since teeth whitening involves teeth bleaching, you should be aware that no magical transformation will happen. What will really happen is that the color of your teeth will get 5-6 shades lighter. So, if the color is yellow, it is likely to become close to off-white. If it’s off-white, it is expected to become close to white.

On your first consultation, most dentists will:

• Check if you are 18+. Dentists don’t usually conduct this procedure on children.
• Check that your gums and teeth are healthy enough to bear the bleaching process that’s a vital part of the treatment.
• Ensure that you know what shade you can expect your teeth to be post-treatment. For this, the dentist will show you a chart comprising different shades of teeth.
• Give you a tentative period by which the procedure will be done. It depends on the treatment. It can take an hour to 3-4 weeks.

Is it right for you?

Before you make up your mind, you should be extremely sure if it’s right for you or not. Here are a few points that I suggest my clients keep in mind before they sign up for the treatment:

• Be sure that your teeth are healthy.
• It would be best if you were not pregnant or breastfeeding. It’s not clear yet if bleaching products can or cannot harm the baby or the mother. However, your teeth can wait. So, please don’t risk it.
• If you have a crown or bridge, be aware that the treatment will not change their color. In such cases, I often try to apply a particular amount of bleach that would eventually match the color of the bridge or crown.
• Make up your mind to make a few sacrifices for the best results after the treatment.

What happens during the treatment?

Let’s first talk about the commonly-used method of teeth whitening – Home Teeth Whitening Kit.

The vital ingredient that the dentists use to whiten the teeth is ‘hydrogen peroxide’. According to the new law, passed in 2012, those practitioners who are on dental registers, can use a concentration of 6% hydrogen peroxide for teeth whitening.

This process takes place in the course of 1-2 weeks, most of which happens at your home. Here’s how the treatment will be undertaken, step by step:

• Your dentist will take the impression of your upper and lower sets of teeth in the first sitting. It will be used to create a mouthguard.
• Next, the dentist will provide you with a bleaching gel such as the Enlighten Whitening tray. S/he will brief you about the gel and how to use it. The gel would ideally have 5-6% of hydrogen peroxide that will give you the desired outcome.
• You have to use the mouthguard before applying the gel at home. The gel needs to be applied for a period that will be specified by the dentist over a period of 2-4 weeks.
• S/he may ask you to keep the gel on for 6-8 hours at a time if you are in a hush to finish the treatment. I would suggest that you go with regular treatment, and not hush things.
• For the final part of the treatment, you’ll have to consult the dentist once again. It will be a 1-hour session, wherein the dentist will use the same tray and an in-office gel.

Another type of treatment that you can opt for is Laser Teeth Whitening Treatment.

This treatment will be done, more or less, within a span of 1-2 hours at the dental clinic. However, you’ll be given a home-tray to take care of your whitened teeth afterward.

Here are the steps that dentists follow for this treatment:

• On the first consultation, the dentist will first check if laser treatment can be done on your teeth. They’ll also ask you the shade you expect.
• Once that is done, they’ll prepare your tray and ask you to wait for some time.
• When the tray is ready, the dentist will apply a whitening solution across your teeth.
• Next, s/he will throw a special blue light from a machine on your teeth. This light activates the solution.
• The process will be repeated four times, giving 15 minutes to each time. But be ready for a 2-hours appointment. It won’t be done within an hour.
• Once the process is finished, your practitioner will provide you with the tray kit and instruct you on how to use it.

Here’s a Pro-tip: It’ll be overwhelming to see whitened teeth at the clinic, but do listen to your dentist’s instructions carefully. The instructions written on the kits are not usually useful.

How do I maintain my bright smile?

That’s a big question. Your teeth are white, and your confidence is back. Now how do you keep it?

Well, here’s some expert advice to keep your pearl-white teeth intact for a long time:

• Cut down on sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and cigarettes for at least 2-3 months.
• Keep visiting your dentist for regular cleaning and polishing.
• Floss and brush your teeth twice a day.
• Try using a neutral mouthwash before going to bed to ensure that no nasty stuff stays inside all night.

Lastly, teeth whitening treatment isn’t a permanent solution. You’ll have to take care of your teeth and practice good dental hygiene to sustain it. The treatment can last up to 3 years if properly taken care of.