Gel Tooth Whitening – How to Get the Best Results at the Lowest Cost
Gel tooth whitening is one method used to make the surface of your teeth whiter by removing surface debris. It works to restore the normal white color of the teeth which gradually becomes dull and discolored due to eating sugar or from coffee stains. Also, normal wear and tear from chewing breaks down the enamel which causes the core of the tooth to show through and dulls the color. Gel tooth whitening also known as bleaching, can help combat these problems.
There are three teeth whitening options widely available today. Gel whitening can be done at your dentist’s office. Your dentist is a trained professional that is skilled at achieving the best results. In-office whitening produces a significant color change in just a short time period. It is also the safest method for gel tooth whitening. Your dentist is able to control gum and tooth sensitivity due to the thicker tooth whitening gels available in the dental office.
The in-office gel tooth whitening procedure begins with a thorough dental examination and cleaning to make sure your teeth are healthy and that you have no problems that would interfere with gel whitening. The dentist will then apply a rubber dam to your gums so they are protected during the procedure. Next comes the application of a thick peroxide gel. The gel is left in place for up to 20 minutes. Then it is washed off and your teeth are examined for results. If they need more whitening, the procedure is repeated up to a maximum peroxide contact time of one hour.
Each time the gel is washed off, your teeth will be examined to see how they are progressing and to determine which ones need another application of gel. If your teeth have not whitened to the degree that you want, your dentist may recommend that you return at a later time for another gel tooth whitening treatment as the maximum limit for the gel application is one hour per session.
In-office gel tooth whitening is safe and effective but does have some drawbacks. For one thing it is costly. You can expect to pay up to $650 for one session. Plus there is no guarantee you will get the results you want. You may need additional sessions. It could even be possible that your teeth will not get any whiter due to heredity, stain type, or age. Also, gel whitening is not permanent, so you will probably need to have on-going treatments of some type to keep your teeth white.
You can save some money on gel tooth whitening when you buy the kit from your dentist and apply it at home yourself. You should be able to buy a kit for under $400, which is a substantial savings. These are more expensive than store bought kits because they have a higher percentage of peroxide in them and can only be obtained from a dentist. The results you get are just as good, or even better, than the results you get from in-office treatment. The results may be better because you can extend the treatments over a longer period of time.
Dentist-dispensed kits consist of custom fitted application trays that keep the bleach in contact with the teeth. The gel can be fine tuned by your dentist to ensure proper concentration and loaded to the trays before use. Your dentist will instruct you as to proper use of the gel tooth whitening take-home kits.
The least expensive method of gel tooth whitening is the over-the-counter store bought whitening kit. Store bought gel tooth whitening kits range from $20 to $100. Store bought whitening kits contain bleaching gel that has a concentration that is lower than what a dentist would use for an in-office visit or what is contained in a dentist-dispensed take-home kit. The whitening gel is applied on the teeth with a standard tray unlike the dentist-dispensed kit that is custom fitted. You can achieve whiter teeth with store bought kits but you must not expect the results to be the same as with professional treatment.
If you want to save money, but still get great results, then home whitening could be the option for you. This type of gel tooth whitening can really produce a smile to be proud of, if you know where to look for the right home kit!
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