Teeth Whitening 101: How Long Does a Session Last

Teeth Whitening 101: How Long Does a Session Last? from Gables Exceptional Dentistry in Coral Gables, FL Teeth whitening treatments can get you a drastically improved smile in as little as 60 minutes. Your smile is an important part of your appearance since it is one of the first things people notice during social interactions. A pearly white smile is a great way to make a solid first impression.

Teeth whitening treatments are powered by bleaching agents like hydrogen peroxide and hydrogen carbamide. These chemicals remove stains from teeth surfaces and the inner layers. Their molecules penetrate past enamel into the patient’s dentist.

Teeth start off pearly white, but they pick up stains and discoloration over the years. At some point, the stains and discoloration become the most prominent part of the person’s smile. Things that lead to teeth becoming discolored and stained include the coloring in foods and beverages like beets and coffee, habits like smoking, and the effect of aging on teeth.

Fortunately, teeth whitening treatments are effective on all these types of stains. However, teeth whitening treatments are not an effective way to eliminate some stains like those caused by fluorosis, tetracycline antibiotics, and tooth decay.

Professional teeth whitening

There are many ways to go about improving the color of teeth. Over-the-counter whitening products are sold in grocery and drug stores all over, but they come with less concentrated bleaching agents since they are typically not used under dental supervision.

Professional whitening treatments performed by dentists get patients the fastest whitening treatment available. These are performed under the supervision of a dentist who has access to significantly more concentrated bleaching agents than those sold to the public.

The way things work, the more concentrated the bleaching product being used is, the shorter each whitening session will be. The highly concentrated products used by dentists are typically not left in contact with teeth for more than 90 minutes. Keeping teeth immersed in the whitening product for longer than that can weaken or damage teeth enamel.

Results are immediate with professional whitening treatments. A single session, on average, improves the whiteness of a person’s teeth by up to eight shades according to the American Academy for Cosmetic Dentistry.

Professional teeth whitening sessions are often performed with a customized mouth tray. The appliance is made from an impression of the patient’s teeth at a dental lab. It takes about two weeks from the time the impression is made for the customized mouth tray to be ready.

Lasers are sometimes used during whitening treatments to speed up the process. The laser serves as a catalyst, speeding up the reaction between hydrogen carbamide or hydrogen peroxide molecules with stains on the patient’s teeth. That can shorten the length of each whitening session to 30 to 60 minutes. A customized mouth tray is typically not needed when laser teeth whitening is performed.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Teeth Whitening in Coral Gables, FL

Improve your smile with teeth whitening

Ready for whiter teeth? Give us a call or stop by our Coral Gables clinic to learn more about teeth whitening treatments and your options.

Request an appointment or call Gables Exceptional Dentistry at 305-203-4132 for an appointment in our Coral Gables office.

Recent Posts

Are Teeth Whitening Treatments Effective On All Types Of Stains

Teeth whitening treatments can get you the pearly set of white teeth you have always wanted. It is an effective way to get rid of most types of stains and discoloration like those caused by the coloring agents in the things you eat and drink, habits like smoking, and the yellowing effect of aging on…

What Questions To Ask Your Dentist About Teeth Whitening

Professional teeth whitening is a great way to brighten your smile after stains develop. If you are not sure if professional teeth whitening is right for you, then you can learn more about it through a consultation with a dentist. The following are five questions to ask your dentist before teeth whitening.Professional, in-office teeth whitening…

The Different Types Of Teeth Whitening Treatments

Teeth whitening treatments are one of the most popular cosmetic treatments used in dentistry, and it often leaves people with a noticeably whiter smile. The procedure is typically performed using bleaching agents like hydrogen peroxide to remove stains from deep inside teeth.Teeth whitening treatments are effective on the most common types of stains, like those…

Recent Posts

Some Dentists Offer Sleep Medicine Treatment For Sleep Apnea

Some Dentists Offer Sleep Medicine Treatment For Sleep Apnea

Dental sleep medicine treatment focuses on treating sleep apnea and other related conditions. More dentists are choosing to practice in this line of work because there are actually a lot of good dental sleep apnea treatments available to patients. Modern-day dentistry has evolved quite a bit, which has allowed for the evaluation of all kinds…

A Guide To Caring For Dental Crowns

A Guide To Caring For Dental Crowns

Whether you have a cracked, chipped, or decayed tooth, a dental crown can restore it to its original shape. With proper care, these restorations can last about 15 years. The good news is that caring for crowns is straightforward, with most patients not needing to change their oral hygiene routine.Dental crowns are essentially caps that…