Myths about teeth whitening debunked by our team
Having teeth whitened is one of the most popular procedures to be performed by a cosmetic dental team.
Indeed, as more people are able to get faster realignment procedures and white or composite fillings fitted, whitening and other cosmetic procedures have come to the forefront of what most dental surgeries are approached for. And at Dee Kay Dental, we are no exception.
When you visit our team at Dee Kay Dental to have teeth whitening Sheffield, we will aim to match your aesthetic goals perfectly and will provide you with the most efficient treatment available to do so in the shortest time period possible. That way, you can enjoy your brighter, whiter smile for longer.
But you may have heard that the professional process of having teeth whitening Sheffield is uncomfortable or that it weakens the teeth. In this article, we aim to debunk some of the most common myths about dental whitening, so you can determine whether or not this is the right process for you.
Having your teeth whitened hurts
In years gone by, dental whitening was a more uncomfortable procedure.
However, when you come to us for teeth whitening Sheffield, we will look at the underlying cause of the discolouration and will aim to remove the staining with the most gentle options possible. This may include bleach-based whitening or abrasion-based whitening. Bleach-based is the more common and thanks to built-in anti-sensitivity agents, this is a process that should not be uncomfortable.
Over-the-counter treatments are as good as professional ones
This is simply not the case.
When you opt for professional whitening, the bleaches we use will contain a 60% minimum of hydrogen peroxide, also known as the bleaching agent that removes the stains. However, over-the-counter kits contain no more than 3% hydrogen peroxide, meaning simply that they are not as good at permanently removing stains.
Whitening teeth makes them sensitive
After you have had your teeth whitened, depending on the methods used, they may be temporarily sensitive. However, even this is unlikely as studies have found that with modern methods of whitening, such as bleaching, there is no alteration in the enamel’s structure, meaning that any sensitivity from whitening alone is incredibly unlikely.
The whitening procedure takes a long time
This will depend on the severity of the staining and the methods being used.
When you come to our team for bleach-based whitening, we will need to see you for 2 appointments, where we will apply the gel to your teeth and remove the staining. This process can take 45 minutes per appointment and will be spread over a 2-week period.
In between this, if you have extensive discolouration, we will aim to provide you with a tray to wear a weakened version of the gel at night to create a brighter, whiter smile.
However, in cases of discolouration that are minor, you can have the whiter smile that you want in as little as 20-30 minutes!
You will get a Hollywood whiteness from this procedure
If you want a gleaming Hollywood smile, our team will certainly try to make that happen. But the whiteness achieved through this process will depend on the level of discolouration at the beginning, your lifestyle and other factors such as genetics. So, while we can aim to give you a whiter smile, you may not be matching those on the red carpet!