Nothing gives a first impression quite like a white smile, but there are a lot of options to choose from, so which is best? Choosing the best teeth whitening solution is often a case of finding the right tool for the job so to speak, and there are solutions for brightening your smile at home, or with a cosmetic dentist. There are three main things to consider when choosing how to brighten your smile:
- Time
- End result
- How severe your case is
The available vary in how long they take to deliver results, with professional dental whitening services offering results in the space of an hour, or home kits delivering results in days or weeks.
Another key consideration is the end result you’re after – if you’re after that pearly white smile you see on television and in movies, then a cosmetic dentist will be able to deliver the best whitening results, whereas home kits will be better for minor improvements.
Lastly, there is the severity of your case – if you’re only after a whiter smile, then home whitening or in-chair whitening services will be best, but if your teeth are also uneven or crooked then you may want to look into veneers and other cosmetic dental solutions.
Teeth whitening at home
Most people’s first instinct is to look into home teeth whitening. It’s understandable – home whitening kits are easily accessible and relatively affordable. However, as with all over-the-counter solutions to professional dental services, there are compromises made to make them more accessible to the general public.
Home tooth whitening kits use a lower grade whitening agent in order to ensure that it can be safely applied without the need for years of dental experience. The tradeoff for this is that whitening your teeth at home takes much longer than getting it done by your dentist and depending on how stained your teeth are you may not achieve your desired result. Another disadvantage is that much like cutting your own hair, there is an inherent risk of human error that can lead to uneven whitening, gum bleaching or gum burns – all of which may send you to the dentist anyway.
Whitening your teeth at the dentist
One of the advantages of opting for professional teeth whitening versus home teeth whitening kits is that the end result arrives much faster. At Smile by Design, we offer 1.5-hour in-office whitening to our patients that allows them to achieve a brighter smile much faster than any home solution can offer.
The professional-grade whitening gel is applied to your teeth and a special light is used to progressively lighten the shades of your teeth. We repeat the steps one or two more times until the final results are achieved, letting you leave the office with teeth that are several shades lighter than when you arrived.
Cosmetic teeth whitening uses a highly concentrated whitening formula that actually oxidises stain particles so they float away from the porous tooth enamel. It also whitens already healthy enamel by several shades, making it an ideal solution that lightens even the yellowest of teeth in a matter of minutes.
Dental Veneers
If your case is more severe, and your teeth are more than just superficially stained or you also want to correct broken or misshapen teeth then you may want to consider porcelain veneers.
Dr. Tam is one of the leading cosmetic dentists in Sydney, and he and his team have extensive experience in using porcelain veneers not only to whiten teeth but also to correct more severe cosmetic dental issues all in the space of one procedure.
Every patient’s aesthetic needs are different, and Dr. Tam works closely with each of his patients to identify what aspects of their smile they want to change, as well as their budget. After your initial consultation at our Smile by Design office in Sydney, you can have your new porcelain veneers ready and enjoy a completely new smile just two weeks after your one-hour application appointment.
Deciding how to whiten your teeth
Every case is different, but once you’ve established how severe your case is, the end result you want, and how long you’re willing to wait for a brighter smile then you can make an informed decision on the best solution for you – be it at home whitening, professional teeth whitening, or getting veneers.
Still not sure about the best teeth whitening service for you? We’re here to help! Feel free to make an appointment for a cosmetic dental consultation at our North Sydney or Bondi Junction locations and we can step you through the best solution for whitening your teeth.
