There are three general approaches to teeth whitening. Over-the-counter whitening products are widely available in the United States and include preformed trays with whitening gel, adhesive whitening strips, and products applied directly to the tooth surface. These products have improved over time, but they generally require repeated use over an extended period. Dentist-supervised take-home whitening uses custom-made trays created from impressions or scans of your teeth. The custom fit allows the whitening gel to contact the tooth surfaces more evenly, and professional products generally contain a higher concentration of whitening agent than retail products. Treatment typically needs to be continued for about a week to achieve a good result. In-office whitening is performed at the dental office in a single visit. After the tooth surfaces are prepared, whitening gel is applied and activated with a specialized light system. Treatment can be completed in about an hour. The degree of whitening varies depending on the individual characteristics of the teeth.
Teeth Whitening
