The Different Types of Teeth Whitening Treatments

Teeth whitening treatments are one of the most popular cosmetic treatments used in dentistry, and it often leaves people with a noticeably whiter smile. The procedure is typically performed using bleaching agents like hydrogen peroxide to remove stains from deep inside teeth.

Teeth whitening treatments are effective on the most common types of stains, like those caused by tannins in the things you eat and drink, aging, and using tobacco products. The average whitening session lasts anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes depending on several factors like the specific type of whitening treatments being performed and how sensitive the patient’s teeth are. The average person leaves the session with their teeth eight shades whiter.

Popular types of teeth whitening treatments

Thinking about restoring your teeth to their original color? Here are some of the different types of whitening treatments a dentist might recommend:

1. Conventional teeth whitening

Standard whitening treatments are performed in-office, and a customized mouth tray is often used. The mouth tray is made from an impression of the patient’s mouth, so it fits snuggly, keeping the patient’s teeth evenly coated with the bleaching product during their treatment and protecting their gum tissues from the product.

The patient bites down on a mouth tray that has been filled with a whitening product and they keep the mouth tray in their mouth for up to 90 minutes. One treatment is enough for many people to reach a shade of white they are happy with, but others might need additional treatments to get their teeth to the desired white color.

2. Laser teeth whitening

Laser whitening treatments are also performed in-office, but a customized mouth tray is often not needed. Instead of using a whitening gel or solution as is the case with conventional whitening treatments, a whitening paste is painted on the patient’s teeth and their gums are protected with a gel that serves as a barrier.

A laser is used to agitate the molecules of the bleaching agent being used for faster whitening. Laser teeth whitening is as effective as conventional whitening treatments, but treatment times can be as short as 30 to 60 minutes.

3. At-home whitening kits

Dentists can also provide patients with at-home whitening kits they can use from the convenience of their homes. These kits contain more powerful bleaching agents than anything that can be purchased over the counter and they typically come with a customized mouth tray. At-home whitening kits do not lead to immediate results as is the case with the other two whitening options discussed above, but they can get you to the same level of whiteness over a few weeks.