Dr. Christopher Pescatore
Restorative & Cosmetic Dentistry
Creating Beautiful Smiles
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Which Teeth Whitening Method Is Right for You?

In Cosmetic November 3, 2021

Tooth discoloration can affect the appeal of your smile and cause you to be self-conscious in social situations. If your teeth are not as white as you would like, you can brighten them using the various teeth whitening options available. To ensure you get satisfactory results, you need to choose a treatment that aligns with your smile needs and goals. Read on to find out which teeth whitening method is right for you.

Professional Teeth Whitening

The most reliable and effective teeth whitening treatment is professional chairside teeth whitening. Also known as in-office tooth whitening, the treatment takes place at the dentist’s office and only takes 90 minutes of your time.

During the whitening procedure, your dentist applies high concentration hydrogen peroxide on your teeth and lets it sit for up to 30 minutes before wiping it off and repeating the procedure. Sometimes, dentists use a special light to accelerate the whitening process. Chairside tooth whitening is a quick way to make your teeth multiple shades whiter, and you can see results immediately.

Take-Home Whitening Kits

You can whiten your teeth in the comfort of your home using professional take-home whitening kits. Although you perform the whitening treatment yourself, the procedure is prescribed by a dentist. Your dentist provides you with a kit consisting of whitening gel, which contains a lower concentration of hydrogen peroxide than chairside treatment, as well as custom trays designed to fit your smile.

You place the gel in the custom trays before wearing them on your teeth to eliminate staining and discoloration. Your dentist will explain how to use the kit for the best results. Results vary, but most people start seeing results from take-home teeth whitening in approximately 10-14 days.

Whitening Toothpaste and Mouthwash

If you are looking for a budget-friendly solution to discolored teeth, you should consider whitening toothpaste. Unlike normal toothpaste, it contains special abrasives that gently eliminate staining on the tooth surface. While whitening toothpaste can remove surface stains, it does not bleach your teeth.

Whitening mouthwashes, on the other hand, contain whitening chemicals like hydrogen peroxide that brighten discolored teeth. Swish mouthwash around in your mouth for one minute twice a day before brushing to whiten your teeth. Since the rinse stays in contact with your teeth for only two minutes daily, it can take up to 12 weeks to start seeing results.

Over-the-Counter Whitening Strips

As the name suggests, whitening strips are adhesive plastic strips that you attach to your teeth to improve the look of your smile. They contain whitening agents like hydrogen peroxide and come in pairs, one for the upper row of teeth and another for the bottom. Wearing whitening strips can brighten your teeth up to two shades whiter, and you can start seeing results after a few days of use.

Conclusion

If you are looking for an effective and reliable option with quick results, professional teeth whitening services may be right for you. This option provides the expertise of a qualified dentist, as well as customized treatment to meet your specific smile goals. However, if you want to whiten your teeth at home with more gradual results, a take-home whitening kit or over-the-counter product may be your best bet. Before whitening your teeth, talk to your dentist about your overall oral health and goals for your dental aesthetics, so you can achieve a whiter smile while safeguarding your dental wellness.

The post Which Teeth Whitening Method Is Right for You? first appeared on Dental Signal.
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Testimonials

Dr. Pescastore,

I just had to take a minute to let you know how much me and my family appreciate everything you have done for us. When we met in 2001 I was honestly anxious about the work I needed to have done. I was nervous about the results and also about the potential pain it might take to achieve the smile I wanted. You were so thorough in your evaluation of my extensive dental history and so clear in your explanation of the procedures required that I felt confident to take your recommendations and trust my smile to you. I have never regretted that decision. I am so grateful for the way you and your wonderful staff made every appointment as easy and comfortable as it could possibly have been. I was always happy to be going there knowing I would be treated so well and love the results. I still feel the same way, and look forward to my appointments with you and your caring staff. I really enjoy the spa like feeling and always leave there more relaxed than when I arrived. My friends are always surprised to learn that I look forward to my dentist appointments as they are lamenting about theirs.

I am especially grateful for the way you have treated my daughters. They too had many dentists before you and were nervous about going to the dentist. Thanks to you and Stacey and the rest of your wonderful staff they now share my feeling about going to the dentist and are happy to be there. Brooke is so afraid of needles that even at seventeen years old she still cries if she thinks she might get a shot at the doctors office. She was very nervous before her first appointment with you, in spite of mine and her sisters assurance that it really wouldn't hurt. Thank you for proving us right. Now even Brooke is not afraid to go to the dentist. I also want you to know how grateful I am for the emergency care you gave Sadie when she chipped her front tooth. I really appreciate you changing your own plans for the day to help her. She was so upset about the way her tooth looked that she cried all the way to your office. She, like me, left your office that day feeling great about herself and her smile. You have really made a positive difference in our lives and we are all so grateful to you for it. We all look forward to seeing you and your great team for our future dental needs.

With Great Respect and Many Thanks,

Pennie Gaddis

I look back at old photographs and realize I spent years hiding teeth. I had braces in my 30s and made the mistake of having my orthodontist apply veneers to my discolored, misshapen teeth. I was his first veneers patient, and I learned that when you're having cosmetic dentistry done, you should have a cosmetic dentist do it. When I decided to have those veneers replaced, I found an expert Dr. Pescatore. In fact, it was just a few weeks before my wedding that I asked Dr. Pescatore to do my smile makeover. I trusted him completely and knew from my first appointment that I was in good hands. He impressed me with his concern that my veneers look natural, and they do. My smile is huge in my wedding pictures, not only because I had a new husband but also because I had fabulous new teeth! I'm grateful to Dr. Pescatore and his caring, attentive staff for what they did for me. I finally have the smile I'd always wanted.

Evelyn Dalton

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