Your Dartmouth Invisalign® Provider
Our dentists at Evergreen Dental provide both in-office and take-home teeth whitening solutions to help our Dartmouth lighten the appearance of their smiles.
What is Professional Teeth Whitening?
Your dentist can safely and effectively remove stains and lighten the colour of your teeth with professional teeth whitening.
As we age, our teeth become more susceptible to staining from food, beverages and other substances. Our tooth enamel naturally attracts food particles and substances such as berries, tea, coffee and tobacco are well-known for staining teeth.
The bleaching agents we use during the teeth whitening treatment process are designed to lighten the colour of your teeth and remove years of staining and aging.
How Teeth Whitening Works
Peroxide-based bleaching agents are used in teeth whitening solutions. As the active ingredient breaks down, oxygen acts on the tooth enamel, producing the whitening effect.
In-Office Teeth Whitening in Dartmouth
The in-office whitening procedure is performed by your dentist at our dental clinic and takes about two hours. First, a barrier is affixed around your gums to shield them before a thin layer of gel is applied to each tooth and chemically activated. This process is repeated a few times until the desired shade of white is created.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening in Dartmouth
At Evergreen Dental, we provide at-home whitening options so that you can whiten your teeth on your own time, in the comfort of your home. We create custom whitening trays shaped specifically for your smile. Your dentist will also provide you with instructions to use during the course of your at-home treatment.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions we receive from our patients about teeth whitening at Evergreen Dental.
- How long do the effects of teeth whitening last?
Teeth whitening does not whiten your smile permanently.
If your teeth are continually exposed to foods and beverages that cause staining, whiteness will probably begin to lessen after a few months.
If you steer clear of these foods and drinks following your treatment, you may only need a touch up after about a year.
- Does teeth whitening make teeth more sensitive?
A short-term side effect to teeth whitening may be tooth sensitivity. This should fade for most patients within a few days following a whitening treatment.
To lessen discomfort, we suggest using an anti-sensitivity toothpaste before treatment and for at least two weeks after your treatment.
- Do teeth whitening products work on all stains?
Teeth whitening treatments tend to work best on brown and yellow-coloured stains.
Stains that are blue, purple or grey in colour historically haven't tended to respond to whitening at all. If your teeth have these types of stains, cosmetic treatments such as dental crowns or veneers may be a better fit for you.
- Does teeth whitening work on dental restorations?
No, teeth whitening does not work on existing dental restorations such as crowns or veneers. It only works on your natural teeth.
If your treatment plan includes crowns or veneers, teeth whitening should occur before your dental restorations are placed.
- Will teeth whitening damage my tooth enamel?
If a qualified dentist supervises your treatment, it is very unlikely that your dental enamel will be damaged by teeth whitening.
Always ask your dentist before trying any teeth whitening products to ensure you are using them safely.
- Does insurance cover the cost of teeth whitening?
Because it is a purely cosmetic procedure, dental insurance does not typically cover the cost of teeth whitening, as there are no health benefits for your teeth.