Weighing Your Options: At-Home vs. In-Office Teeth Whitening

Portrait Of Smiling Young Friends Walking Outdoors Together

Weighing Your Options: At-Home vs. In-Office Teeth Whitening

Portrait Of Smiling Young Friends Walking Outdoors Together

Do you want white teeth like a movie star but years of drinking coffee, tea, or wine have dashed your dreams? Fortunately, bright pearly whites are still possible with professional teeth whitening courtesy of our Portage cosmetic dentist.

Dr. Paul can lighten up the appearance of your teeth so you feel confident showing them off. At Courtside Dental, we offer two forms of treatment, in-office and at-home, for patients looking to achieve sparkling results.

Here are the advantages of in-office and at-home teeth whitening treatment.

Is Teeth Whitening Right for You?

If you decide you would like to pursue a teeth whitening procedure, you will first need to be deemed a proper candidate. Dr. Paul will determine your candidacy with a quick oral examination of your teeth and gums.

Provided that all looks well, you will need to choose between take-home whitening or Opalescence® Boost™ in-office whitening. Your decision will ultimately depend on your personal wants and needs.

Teeth Whitening At Home

Perhaps you are someone who would prefer to whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home. If that is the case, we offer an easy and effective solution.

Advantages of at-home teeth whitening include:

  • Can be completed at home
  • Easy to follow steps
  • Gradually whitens over a few weeks
  • Professional-grade whitening gel safe to use at home
  • Little to no sensitivity after completion

Should you choose the home version of treatment, Dr. Paul will first provide you with a set of tooth-whitening trays that are custom-fitted to your mouth. A powerful gel formulated to whiten your teeth will also be given to you in addition to the trays.

You’ll need to apply the gel to the trays and leave them in for as long as directed. Be sure to use the trays as we’ve instructed and try to ensure the gel only makes contact with your teeth and not your gums.

Depending on your desired shade, our home teeth whitening may take a few weeks to complete. After treatment is finished, we can assess the results and you can decide if further whitening is needed.

In-Office Opalescence® Boost™ Teeth Whitening

For those nervous about messing up their results or fear they are too forgetful for at-home teeth whitening, we recommend coming into our Portage dental office for the procedure.

Advantages of Opalescence Boost teeth whitening include:

  • Fast results performed in the office
  • No hot, uncomfortable LED lights needed
  • Relatively quick procedure
  • Chemically activated whitening gel

Boost is a safe, dental-grade teeth-whitening system that can provide you with beautiful results in only two visits with us. First, Dr. Paul will need to assess the current shade of your teeth.

A protective barrier will then be put on to prevent the teeth-whitening gel from possibly irritating your gums. After that has been applied, Dr. Paul will put on the Boost chemically activated whitening gel with a gentle, brushed tip.

During your visit, the gel will be applied for about 20 minutes and you will start to see results in about an hour. Follow up treatment may be needed but we will be sure to discuss this with you.

Smile Brighter Today

You don’t have to settle for darker teeth stained by food and beverages. Our cosmetic dentist in Portage, MI, is here to help you feel more comfortable with your smile. Call Courtside Dental today at (269) 327-1011 to ask us about our teeth whitening options or request an appointment.

This blog post has been updated.

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