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Your Tooth Whitening Options - The Pros and Cons

Serving Palm Beach & Boca Raton

Tooth whitening is one of the most common cosmetic dentistry treatments that Dr. Mogell performs at Aesthetic Dental Consultants of Boca Raton. With so many of us looking for ways to achieve a Hollywood smile, we have created a list of pros and cons for the different tooth whitening treatments that are available to you.

In-Office Tooth Whitening

In-Office tooth whitening is most often performed with a tooth whitening gel that is applied to your teeth. After the tooth whitening gel is applied, a high-intensity light is used to activate the gel, breaking down stains and discolorations on your teeth.

Pros:

• Tooth whitening can be completed in a single office visit.
• Supervised by an experienced cosmetic dentist
• Results will appear naturally white
• The shade of white that can be achieved is generally higher
• Darker stains and discoloration can be whitened

Cons:

• More expensive than take-home or over-the-counter tooth whitening products
• Immediate results may be more noticeable than gradual tooth whitening

Take-Home Tooth Whitening

Much like over-the-counter tooth whitening products, take-home tooth whitening is performed with trays that are filled with tooth whitening gel. The gel is worn at home for up to two hours a day over the course of about two weeks.

Pros:

• Teeth are whitened in the comfort of home
• Trays are custom designed for your teeth
• Tooth whitening gel is prescription strength
• Tooth whitening is supervised by an experienced cosmetic dentist
• Results are achieved gradually
• Less expensive than in-office tooth whitening

Cons:

• Must visit the dentist office during the tooth whitening treatment to examine teeth and gums for irritation or damage
• Trays are usually worn all night
• Teeth may experience increased sensitivity as a result of prolonged exposure to tooth whitening gel
• Results can vary depending on how long trays are worn and the extent of the staining or discoloration of your teeth

Over-The-Counter Tooth Whitening Kits

Over-the-counter tooth whitening kits can be purchased at almost any grocery store. Generally, over-the-counter tooth whitening treatments consist of strips or trays that lower-intensity tooth whitening gel is applied to.

Pros:

• Relatively inexpensive, costing less than both take-home and in-office tooth whitening
• Can be performed in the comfort of your own home
• Teeth can be "touched-up" as results fade

Cons:

• Teeth can appear unnaturally white
• Tooth whitening is performed without the supervision of an experienced cosmetic dentist
• Tooth whitening trays may not fit correctly
• Tooth whitening can take up to a month
• May not achieve the shade of white desired

The best way to determine which tooth whitening procedure is right for you is to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Mogell at Aesthetic Dental Consultants of Boca Raton. During your initial consultation, Dr. Mogell will listen to the goals you would like to achieve, and help determine what tooth whitening option is best for you.