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Teeth whitening dentist and DIY: best of both worlds
Not to worry! After reading this, you’ll apprehend simply what to try to do. New York City-based orthodontist and teeth whitening specialist Dr. Jacqueline Fulop Goodling has come to the rescue and explained the pros and cons of each to help you decide which option is best for you.
To begin, each over-the-counter change of color kits and skilled treatments supply sure edges. To have the best outcome possible, it’s important to understand what can reasonably be expected. Additionally, it’s vital to start with a clean slate.
“No matter what method of whitening a patient opts for, it’s essential to have a professional cleaning beforehand to ensure the best possible results,” cautions Dr. Goodling. “Plaque and remnant adhesive from treatment won’t discolor, thus if they are a gift, the result is going to be blotchy and imperfect— far from the effulgent smile folks need after they discolor.”
Over-the-Counter/DIY Whitening KitsÂ
Do-it-yourself whitening kits like Crest 3D White Whitestrips, Listerine Whitening Quick Dissolving Strips, super smile Professional Whitening Toothpaste, and many more offer high-level whitening at a much lower price point than professional treatments. Prices range from $20 to $99.
Pros: Inexpensive and convenient
With their low price tag, OTC kits are good options for patients who want something they can pick up without making an appointment and who don’t want to make a large investment.
Cons: You’re on your own
Many patients who use these kits use them incorrectly. The bleaching solution isn’t intended to make contact with the gum line, because it causes gum recession, the leading cause of dental sensitivity.
Dr. Goodling’s advice: Use OTC whitening kits for emergencies only, for maintenance, or for cases where extreme discoloration isn’t present. “These kits are great to give your smile a boost before a big event or to maintain the previous whitening. However, the results don’t last as long as professional treatments, and what we don’t like to see is patients over-using them,” Dr. Goodling says.
Professional Whitening TreatmentsÂ
Professional whitening treatments include in-office treatments like Zoom! teeth whitening or BriteSmile that offer fast results and dentist-supervised at-home whitening treatments, which are more economical and render the same results as in-office treatments, though less rapidly. The price varies from $500 to $1,000.
Pros: Dazzling, longer-lasting results, and customization
This summer, the FDA approved the use of ACP, amorphous calcium and phosphate, as a desensitizer, and professional products including Zoom! have successfully integrated it for safer, healthier whitening.
Professional whitening agents are regulated and dispensed only by dental professionals. These agents lighten teeth a mean of seven shades lighter than their original shade. Plus, in-office choices do this in little time.
Dentist-supervised at-home change of color choices embodies a receptacle made-to-order to the specifics of every patient’s mouth, serving to ensure the bleach is applied as exactly as potential.
Cons: High price tag
Professional whitening provides the most impressive results but the cost can be prohibitive.
Dr. Goodling’s advice: Be aware that a handful of companies have begun offering whitening treatments they claim are of “professional grade” but that aren’t regulated and are not what they seem.
