According to the American Dental Association, teeth whitening is more popular than ever, with nearly one in every five people having undergone the procedure. In the Edinburg area, professional whitening at locations like The Lakes Family Dental can help you get the results you want and help you avoid the dangers of at-home whitening kits that can cause lasting damage if used incorrectly. So, what does the process entail, and why is it better to have a professional handle it for you?
In this article, you can get insights on what clinic-grade whitening agents do compared to those found in DIY kits and why you can get a much better result from a dentist without risking damage. Finally, learn why a region like Edinburg can have its own environmental factors that can affect the treatment process, and what practical teeth whitening precautions we take in our clinic to prevent these issues.
Is Teeth Whitening Safe?
Teeth whitening has received a considerable amount of publicity over the years. The short answer is that, yes, teeth whitening can be safe, just as cooking and swimming can be safe. You simply need to ensure you know enough about it to avoid doing it dangerously.
Dental Whitening Safety Standards
Some teeth-whitening kits intended for at-home or "DIY" whitening have recently faced criticism due to the presence of potentially hazardous chemicals within them, which can cause lasting damage in some cases.
However, all whitening treatments performed at a professional clinic, such as The Lakes Family Dental, are performed under strict supervision. Our licensed dentist will oversee the entire process, intervening immediately if anything unexpected occurs or if an adverse reaction arises.
We carefully follow the advice of the American Dental Association regarding the use of products intended to whiten teeth. As such, the bleaching agents and other chemicals we use have all undergone strict safety testing to minimize the risk of enamel damage. So, we can guarantee that the specific peroxide we use will be at the correct concentration for professional use.
The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry also governs the process and requires that pre-treatment assessments occur before treatment is started. We will use these to ensure the health of your gums by confirming that you do not have any gum disease that could cause the bleaching process to be problematic.
These are safety measures that you would not have when performing the process at home, and it is not likely that a friend helping you with teeth whitening would know what to do should something go wrong. So, trust a professional clinic because they have everything on standby for the safety of their patients.
Understanding the Differences in Bleaching Agents
Two of the most common bleaching agents for teeth whitening are hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide. Both of these are available in various concentrations with over-the-counter whitening kits; however, at The Lakes Family Dental, we create custom trays with a low concentration of the solution, ensuring gradual whitening with controlled exposure.
We also tailor the whitening effort to your unique smile. If your teeth have a darker shade or thicker enamel, for example, we may need to adjust our process to compensate and adjust the strength of the bleaching agent accordingly. Similarly, if you have any sensitivities to our whitening agents, we will need to lower the concentration and suggest additional appointments to bleach the teeth more slowly, rather than doing it in fewer sessions.
Excessive use of high-concentration teeth whitening agents without professional guidance can cause irreparable damage to your teeth by damaging the minerals.
Therefore, always follow professional advice regarding the use of whitening bleaches for optimal oral health.
In-Office Safety Tips for Teeth Whitening
In-office whitening appointments with Lakes Family Dental start with an initial cleaning and assessment process. Before any bleaching begins, we will perform a thorough cleaning, removing plaque and tartar, and also evaluate the teeth themselves to ensure the safety of dental whitening.
At Lakes Family Dental, our dental specialists will review your intake form and ask you about any existing conditions. Many of these could be exacerbated by the whitening process, so we would prefer to have your health in mind at all times.
At this stage, there is even a chance that we may determine that your teeth should not undergo teeth whitening due to existing damage. However, if possible, we will advise you on the steps you need to take to repair your teeth before we can proceed.
By the end of the preparation step, you should have clean and strong enamelthat can show even results and avoid issues such as tooth sensitivity following the procedure.
Leveraging Customized Bleaching Processes
As mentioned before, we will tailor the whitening procedure to your teeth. This effort includes using customized:
- Bleach concentrations
- Bleach mixtures
- Treatment times
- Number of appointments
With all these factors in mind, we can minimize the potential risks associated with teeth whitening.
Using Professional-Grade Whitening Tools
The formula we use at The Lakes Family Dental is often a standard professional formulation. These are often more potent than over-the-counter products. However, the extra effort we put in ensures that we prepare your teeth in advance. This stronger concentration can penetrate deeper into the surface of your teeth. Thus, it can even deal with stubborn or more intrinsic stains that occur due to things like:
- Tea and coffee
- Medication
- Aging
- Damage
Handling the above can give you a smile that you can be proud of, avoiding the possibility of different teeth having different outcomes.
Real-time Monitoring of Progress
Throughout the process, our team will check in with you to ensure you are comfortable. We will also ensure that your teeth are whitening at an even rate, making adjustments if necessary.
To help you avoid irritation during the procedure, we will use protective barriers to shield your sensitive tissues, such as your gums, and apply desensitizing agents if deemed necessary. The goal is to ensure that you come out of the process not only happy with the results, but comfortable with every step that you took to get there.
This effort stands in contrast to at-home bleaching, where you will not have anyone there in case something goes wrong. The dentist can pause the bleaching process and neutralize any remaining bleach immediately should an adverse reaction occur. As such, any sensitivity that you feel will hopefully only be temporary.
Those at home may not always have the capability to diagnose what is occurring should discomfort arise. But, if you work with us, we can help you achieve the results you want while avoiding problems that could arise from using over-the-counter teeth whitening kits at home.
Understanding Local Climate and Water
Being Edinburg locals, those here at Lakes Family Dental can attest to the high relative humidity. We understand that this can enhance post-whitening sensitivity, so we prepare for that possibility with each application. As such, we try to treat your teeth in a way that allows the whitening agents to work as well as possible while also avoiding sudden changes in the humidity soon after the treatment.
At the same time, the water in Edinburg is heavily fluoridated. The CDC recommends this amount of fluoride to help prevent tooth decay. However, we understand that those who drink large quantities of the local water may experience a difference in the effectiveness of peroxide.
As such, we may offer you recommendations on how much water to drink to help you achieve better results following treatment.
Post-Whitening Staining from Common Regional Diet
We understand that it may sound strange, but a truth of Edinburg dental care is that some of the local cuisine may cause you to re-stain your teeth soon after treatments. As such, you may want to speak to our specialists about steps you can take to avoid this.
Our dentists will work with you to help you understand the best diet to follow after your next whitening session.
Some of the advice we may give includes:
- Avoiding Tex-Mex cuisine, such as red enchilada sauce or dark salsas
- Try not to drink sweet tea or strong Edinburg coffee due to the dark tannins
- Eat food that does not contain strong acids, such as limes or citrus
- Try to smoke less tobacco following a teeth whitening procedure, as this can impair gum healing
- Use a straw for darker beverages to prevent contact with your front teeth
Many local foods do not trigger these dangers, and we understand that it can be disappointing not to be able to enjoy your favorite things. However, a short period of holding off will allow you to enjoy your whitened teeth for even longer.
Ready to Brighten Your Smile with Professional Teeth Whitening?
Lakes Family Dental is an experienced team of dental specialists with a reliable track record and the trust of the local community. By leveraging state-of-the-art technology, we not only protect your enamel and gums following a teeth whitening but also avoid all the surprises you might encounter with at-home kits.
So, take advantage of our attention to detail, bilingual staff options, and custom advice based on your unique smile history. Book a consultation now and ensure that you can get your pearly whites as pearly as possible.
