Teeth Whitening in Anchorage: Here’s Why You Need a Professional Whitening Procedure

Over time, the brilliant, white teeth we have in childhood start to fade, often becoming stained and yellow. Our once-dazzling smiles start to dim.

There are many reasons this happens – diets, stain-causing beverages (coffee, tea, soda, and red wine), smoking, aging, medication, and poor dental hygiene habits. It’s hard to avoid it. Seeing a dingy smile in the mirror can make you feel self-conscious, and it may get you thinking about teeth whitening options. But why should you consider a professional whitening when so many over-the-counter products are available at your local drug store?

True, there are many at-home products out there — and some are better at whitening discolored teeth than others.

But…

For reliable, high-quality tooth whitening that gives you a confident smile, nothing compares to a professional whitening treatment. Professional teeth whitening has several advantages over at-home treatments. They’re faster, more effective, and more durable. Let’s take a look at all the reasons why professional teeth whitening is more effective than over-the-counter products, and why it’s actually more cost-effective over time.

Health Centered Dentistry provides professional teeth whitening services that target stains and yellowing. We can help you achieve a brilliant smile that stands out. 

Want to see a brighter smile in the mirror? We can help! Contact Health Centered Dentistry today for a free consultation.

Why You Need a Professional Whitening Procedure

Dental Expertise

Commercial home teeth whitening kits may be convenient, but they can’t adjust for your current oral health.

With professional teeth whitening, your dentist will examine your teeth for any possible issues. They can treat any possible issues before the whitening process — and take extra precautions around any cracks or chips during the process, to ensure you get your desired results without causing further damage.

More Even Whitening

Commercial strips and trays aren’t assured to apply the whitening agent equally. Contact may be tight in some places, and looser in others. Some areas may get more gel than others. Whitening gel may not be evenly applied, even on the same tooth, resulting in a speckled or mottled look.

Heavily stained teeth may need more time and whitener than other teeth.

Your dentist will monitor these to ensure an even level of whitening across all your teeth. They’ll apply more whitening gel where needed, ensure it’s evenly applied across each tooth surface, and adjust the duration of the application as needed.

With a professional whitening treatment, you get a custom-tailored, even level of whitening across all your teeth.

Reduced Gum Irritation

Teeth whitening gels generally use hydrogen or carbamide peroxide as their active agent. These bleaching agents remove stains and dissolve the compounds that cause teeth to yellow.

They can also be harsh and cause gum irritation.

Over-the-counter strips and trays have limited sizing options. They may not cover the part of the tooth close to the gum line, leaving stains and yellowing. Or they may overlap the tooth, coming into direct contact with the gums. This causes gum irritation that worsens with each repeated application.

Professional whitening products are formulated to reduce gum irritation. In a professional whitening treatment, dentists place the gel with greater precision. They’ll use protective barriers for your gums and carefully apply the whitening treatment to cover each tooth while minimizing contact with your gums.

Reduced Chance of Tooth Sensitivity

All whitening treatments, over-the-counter and professional, can cause minor tooth sensitivity.

But your dentist can apply a desensitizing agent — both before the procedure and after if needed. They’ll also monitor the sensitivity you experience during the procedure, and make adjustments to minimize any discomfort.

Higher Peroxide Concentration

As we mentioned earlier, whitening agents usually use hydrogen or carbamide peroxide as their active ingredient. This is true for both over-the-counter products and professional whitening treatments.

However, the whitening products used by professionals have a much higher concentration of peroxide.

At-home products contain 3%-20% peroxide.

Professional products contain 15%-43% peroxide.

Professionals can use higher-concentration whitening solutions because they carefully monitor the process from start to finish. You get whiter teeth with less risk of irritation.

These higher-concentration products are only available to dental professionals. Using higher-concentration products at home, without professional supervision, could result in serious irritation and damage to your teeth.

Faster Results

Because of these higher-concentration products, professional whitening treatments take much less time than at-home products. Dental professionals may use a combination of heat and UV lights to make the process even faster and more effective.

Over-the-counter products typically take two to three weeks of repeated application before you see results. With professional treatment, you can have your teeth whitened in just a few hours. You’ll have a brighter smile after just one office visit.

Treatment time may vary based on the level of staining and discoloration you start with. But the process will still be significantly faster than using an over-the-counter product. And the results will look much better.

Longer Lasting Results

A professional whitening treatment lasts much longer than at-home treatments because of better application and higher concentration whitening agents.

Whitening treatments from at-home products usually last just a few months, even with proper oral hygiene.

Professional teeth whitening can last up to three years.

To maximize the longevity of your whitening treatment, make sure to maintain good oral hygiene habits like brushing your teeth twice each day, flossing once per day, and rinsing after drinking staining beverages such as coffee, soda, red wine, or tea. Your dentist may also recommend touch-up treatments for long-lasting results. They may provide you with special toothpaste or take-home trays as well.

Most Cost Effective for the Long Term

Professional whitening treatments do cost more than the at-home kits you pick up in a store.

But they provide better, faster, longer-lasting results.

Over-the-counter treatments take much longer (two to three weeks instead of a few hours) and don’t last as long (a few months instead of a few years). You’d need 3 or 4 at-home whitening treatments per year, for multiple years, just to match the duration of one professional whitening treatment.

Even though dental insurance doesn’t usually cover teeth whitening, a professional treatment will likely cost you less over time.

To find the best solution for you, talk to your dentist. They can provide you with precise costs, and discuss the available payment options.

Health Centered Dentistry – Creating Brighter Smiles in Anchorage

Our Anchorage office provides professional whitening, invisible aligners, porcelain veneers, and other cosmetic dentistry options to boost your self-confidence.

We’ve been Alaska’s destination for holistic dentistry for over 20 years. We ensure comfortable dental care. And we love spoiling our patients with a luxe menu of amenities that will have you looking forward to visiting us. We love our Alaska Community!