The Pros And Cons Of Teeth Whitening At Home
Teeth whitening treatments per se have become increasingly popular in the recent years. However, because many people are too busy to sit at the dentist chair for long periods, home teeth whitening kits are now being done to make the treatment more convenient for the busy sector.
Home teeth whitening treatment is simple, affordable and effective to use. While over-the-counter bleaching products are also widely available, the best approach to home teeth whitening is still via supervision from a trusted teeth whitening specialist.
A take-home teeth whitening treatment begins with a consultation with your trusted dental professional. After you have been cleared and given the thumbs up on a teeth whitening procedure, the dentist then creates a mould for your teeth tray.
Typically made from clear resin or transparent plastic, the teeth tray is loaded with bleaching gel before being inserted in the mouth. The longer the tray holds the teeth, the better the results are. Depending on the shade of white that you want, the dentist will give you instructions on how long and how often you should wear the teeth tray.
Here are some advantages of take home teeth whitening treatments under the supervision of a dentist:
- The teeth tray is more comfortable as it is custom fitted for the exact shape of your teeth. As opposed to buying over the counter bleaching kits, custom fit teeth trays settle easily in your mouth.
- Home teeth whitening do not involve gluing or bonding artificial materials to your teeth. Porcelain veneers require thin layers of porcelain to be bonded to the teeth to cover the existing stained enamel.
- Using a home teeth whitening kit is less costly than using other procedures such as laser technologies and the likes. A take home teeth whitening treatment is relatively affordable and will not rip you off.
- Home teeth whitening treatments produce faster results. If you are conscientious in following your dentist’s instructions, then you will immediately begin to see the changes in your teeth colour.
- You can continue the treatments for as long as you like or quit anytime you feel that your teeth have whitened enough. Refill bleaching gels can be acquired from your dentist’s office or at drugstores (when they not specially formulated for you).
- It is easier to maintain. After a home teeth whitening treatment, you only have to visit your dentist once in two years for follow up or touch-up procedures.
Home teeth whitening treatments are safe and medically approved but there are disadvantages, as with any other treatment. It is realistically up to the patient to decide what type of teeth bleaching he is most comfortable with.
The dentist can only relay information and give advice to the patient but in the end, it is still the patient who makes the last call. The following are the disadvantages of getting a home teeth whitening treatment (as opposed to getting a porcelain veneer or bonding):
- When using teeth trays in bleaching, you are not quite sure of what the outcome will be. Meaning, your teeth may not be evenly bleached and therefore can be in varying shades of white.
- The results of a home teeth whitening treatment are largely dependent on your efforts. Your dentist will not be there each time to prod you.
- A home teeth whitening treatment makes you more prone to commit errors since you are doing it on your own.
